m 


LIEUT.  GEN.  P,  H.  SHERIDAN, 


A    MEMORIAL 


THE  GREAT  REBELLION 


BEING  A   HISTORY  OF 


THE  FOURTEENTH  REGIMENT 


COVERING  ITS  THREE  YEARS   OF   SERVICE,   WITH   ORIGINAL 
SKETCHES   OF  ARMY   LIFE. 


1862-1865. 


ISSUED  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PUBLICATION. 


BOSTON : 

FRANKLIN  PRESS:   RAND,  AVERY,  &  COMPANY. 
1882. 


.5 


COPYRIGHTED,  1882, 
BY    F.    H.    BUFFUM 


TO 

THE  BRAVE   SONS   OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 
<Dur  ComraDts?  of  tlje  jFourttenrtj  Kegtment, 

WHO  DIED  IN  THE  STRUGGLE  WITH  THE  GREAT  REBELLION, 

THAT  THE  u  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE  PEOPLE,  BY  THE 

PEOPLE,  FOR  THE  PFOPLE,  MIGHT  NOT 

PERISH  FROM  THE  EARTH," 

CJrifi  Volume  is  &ffecttonatclp  £)eUtcatcU. 


M134191 


PKEFACE. 


THE  Fourteenth  Regimtnt,  twenty  years  after  its  organization, 
and  seventeen  years  after  its  work  in  the  Great  Rebellion  was  done, 
publishes  its  memorial  volume.  And  still  it  is  the  first  organization 
of  Union  volunteers  from  the  Granite  State  to  issue  a  work  of  this 
kind.  In  waiting  thus  long,  it  is  probable  that  a  more  satisfactory 
volume  has  been  produced  than  would  have  resulted  from  an  earlier 
attempt  at  publication.  The  Committee,  upon  which  the  veterans 
of  the  Fourteenth  devolved  the  duty  now  discharged,  has  striven  to 
present  a  work  free  from  the  crudities  and  narrow  range  of  value 
which  attached  to  so  many  of  the  publications  immediately  following 
the  close  of  the  war. 

This  book  was  intended  by  the  Committee  to  attain  three  ends : 
First,  to  present  an  accurate  history  of  the  Fourteenth  New  Hamp 
shire  Volunteers,  and  a  record  of  all  its  members  up  to  the  present 
year.  A  complete  history  was  not  contemplated,  — •  that  were  an 
impossibility ;  for  it  would  necessarily  include  the  detailed  story  of 
more  than  thirteen  hundred  eventful  lives  during  their  entire  connec 
tion  with  the  regiment.  It  is  believed  that  these  pages  record  all  of 
the  important  events  in  the  life  of  the  organization,  and  perhaps  also 
a  large  proportion  of  the  prominent  incidents  which  filled  out  the 
months  and  years  of  its  service.  Second,  this  volume  aims  to  fur 
nish  a  comprehensive  account  of  the  romantic  and  important  opera 
tions  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the 


VI  PREFACE. 

war ;  epitomized  in  the  first  three  years  of  the  ever-shifting  struggle, 
but  full}r  and  accurately  portrayed  in  the  last  and  triumphant  cam 
paign  of  1864.  Third,  in  a  series  of  articles  of  general  application, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  incidents  appearing  in  the  narrative 
portion,  the  Committee  has  aimed  to  hold  up  before  the  general 
reader  a  striking  picture  of  volunteer  army  life  as  it  was  experienced 
by  a  million  and  a  half  of  America's  citizens  drawn  from  every 
community  in  the  lo}Tal  North. 

Concerning  the  first  point,  the  Committee  has  labored  under  both 
inevitable  and  unnecessary  difficulties.  Important  information  has 
been  obtained  with  difficulty.  The  laps?  of  time  since  1865,  the 
death  or  removal  of  many,  has  rendered  it  difficult,  if  not  impos 
sible,  to  secure  valuable  material.  In  many  cases  it  is  to  be  feared 
that  surviving  members  of  the  regiment  has  not  rendered  that  aid 
which,  could  it  have  been  given,  would  have  materially  lightened  the 
labors,  and  made  more  completely  successful  the  work  accomplished. 

The  Committee  has  made  use  of  all  the  material  furnished,  and 
has  endeavored  by  repeated  requests  to  obtain  every  fact  of  interest. 
Every  practicable  endeavor  has  been  made  to  avoid  neglect  and 
prevent  omissions.  The  Committee  gratefully  recognizes  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  those  comrades  who  have  done  all  in  their  power  to 
make  the  enterprise  worthy  and  successful. 

CHARLES  P.   HALL, 
JOHN  W.    STURTEVANT, 
SAMUEL  L.    GEROULD, 
FRANCIS  H.   BUFFUM, 

Committee  of  Publication. 


AUTHOR'S    NOTE. 


IN  the  preptaration  of  this  volume,  under  the  direction  of  the  Com 
mittee  of  Publication,  the  author  has  been  indebted  to  many  who 
have  contributed  to  this  memorial.  He  desires  to  acknowledge  the 
favors  and  services  which  have  materially  aided  in  the  accomplish 
ment  of  the  work.  He  is  under  obligations  to  the  following  officers 
and  gentlemen  outside  of  the  Fourteenth  Veteran  Association : 
Lieut.-Gen.  Philip  H.  Sheridan ;  Col.  Herbert  E.  Hill,  formerly  of 
Gen.  Sheridan's  staff;  Mr.  C.  K.  Lord  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad  ;  Mr.  George  F.  Field  and  Col.  F.  H.  Forbes  of  Boston ; 
Superintendent  A.  B.  Drum  of  the  National  Cemetery,  Winchester, 
Va.  ;  Postmaster  A.  L.  Ebersole,  Cedar  Creek,  Va. 

The  following  members  of  the  Fourteenth  have  furnished  written 
contributions  :  Col.  Carroll  D.  Wright,  who  has  written  one  of  the 
accounts  of  the  Battle  of  the  Opequan,  and  the  principal  portion 
of  the  sketch  of  "Service  at  the  Central  Guard-House;"  Capt. 
Charles  P.  Hall,  who  furnishes  a  sketch  of  "  Duty  at  Fort  Pulaski," 
and  of  "Hospital  Guard-Duty  in  Washington;"  Capt.  John  W. 
Sturtevant,  who  has  had  charge  of  the  elaborate  and  valuable  tables 
which  complete  this  volume,  gathering  the  material  and  compiling 
the  statistics  with  much  labor  and  difficult}7 ;  Lieut.  Marcus  M. 
Holmes,  who  contributes  one  account  of  the  Battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
and  a  sketch  of  "The  Refugee  Camp  ;  "  Lieut.  Walter  H.  Sargent, 
who  has  written  the  story  of  "  An  Attempted  Escape  ;  "  Sergt.  Sam- 


viii  AUTHOR'S   NOTE. 

uel  L.  Gerould,  who  has  materially  assisted  in  the  preparation  of  the 
statistical  tables,  especially  the  comparative  tables,  which  are  of 
special  interest  to  all  New-Hampshire  veterans.  The  writers  of  the 
various  company  sketches  are  credited  in  the  proper  place. 

In  addition  to  the  formal  written  contributions,  the  following 
comrades  have  supplied  important  information  from  their  diaries : 
Col.  C.  D.  Wright,  Capt.  J.  W.  Sturtevant,  Lieuts.  E.  D.  Hadley, 
O.  C.  Mason,  and  J.  L.  King,  Sergt.  S.  L.  Gerould,  and  A.  Z. 
Mason ;  while  the  following  have  been  active  in  furnishing  data  and 
incidents  with  which  to  enrich  the  work:  Col.  C.  D.  Wright,  Major 
F.  L.  Tolman,  Capts.  S.  A.  Carter,  C.  W.  Hodgdon,  Ira  Berry,  jun., 
C.  P.  Hall,  J.  W.  Sturtevant,  and  G.  F.  Blanchard ;  Lieuts.  M.  M. 
Holmes  and  W.  H.  Sargent;  Sergts.  S.  L.  Gerould,  G.  H.  Stowell, 
jun.,  G.  A.  Sherman,  and  Corpl.  J.  Gove. 

In  order  to  relieve  some  who  are  herein  mentioned  from  any  possi 
ble  embarrassment,  it  may  be  proper  to  state  that  this  note  appears 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  other  members  of  the  Committee.  To 
them  especially,  and  to  all  here  named,  as  well  as  to  others  who 
have  indirectly  assisted,  but  whose  names  have  not  come  to  the 
writer's  knowledge,  is  due  whatever  of  success  may  have  been 
attained. 

THE  AUTHOR. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

PREFACE         v 

AUTHOR'S  NOTE Vli 

PART  I. 

ORGANIZATION 

COMPANY  SKETCHES 

COL.  EGBERT  WILSON 

LiEUT.-CoL.  T.  A.  BARKER 

MAJOR  S.  A.  DUNCAN 43 

MUSTER-IN 

ON  GUARD      . 46 

To  THE  SEAT  OF  WAB 

PART  II. 

SERVICE 

ON  PICKET 70 

BOXES  FROM  HOMB 

THE  COOK-HOUSE 

CENTRAL  GUARD-HOUSE 112 

"COZZENS"  .        / 125 

DRESS-PARADE *30 

LONG  BRIDGE 

ARMY  DISCIPLINE 1^0 

PART  III. 

LOUISIANA  CAMPAIGN       .'..'••       •       •  •       •       •       *^9 

A  EEGIMENT  AFLOAT  .        .        .       .       •       •       •       •  •       •       •    154 

LETTERS  FROM  HOME •  •        •        •        16^ 

THE  RIGHT  WING • .                  1^3 

THE  LEFT  WING •  '     •        175 

THE  YANKEE  IN  BLUE         .  177 


x  CONTENTS. 

PART  IV. 

PAGE 

THE  SHENANDOAH 182 

BATTLE  OF  THE  OPEQUAN        , 204 

ANOTHER  ACCOUNT       .        .-..'. 225 

COL.  ALEXANDER  GARDINER 230 

OBITUARIES 233 

BATTLE  OF  FISHER'S  HILL 246 

AN  ATTEMPTED  ESCAPE 252 

FORAGING    .       .       ...       . 258 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  CREEK 273 

ANOTHER  ACCOUNT 293 

OBITUARIES     .        . ' 296 

Music  IN  THE  ARMY.        .   ' 300 

COL.  C.  D.  WRIGHT 314 

PART  V. 

GEORGIA  CAMPAIGN 316 

MAJOR  F.  L.  TOLMAN 317 

IN  HOSPITAL       . 318 

EEFUGEE  CAMP 325 

FORT  PULASKI 327 

THE  VOLUNTEER  GRUMBLER 335 

ESCORTING  JEFF  DAVIS 341 

THE  NEGRO    . .        .        .        .345 

PART  VI. 

HOME  AGAIN       .        . .        .        .        .  356 

AFTER  TWENTY  YEARS 362 

PART  VII. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER 379 

SPECIAL  DETAILS 403 

PROMOTIONS        .       .       .  *     ,       , 407 

DEATHS  BY  DISEASE     .               412 

KILLED  OR  MORTALLY  WOUNDED 417 

WOUNDED        .        .        .        .....        .        .        .        .        .        .421 

CAPTURED 425 

DEATHS  SINCE  DISCHARGE .  426 

VETERAN  ROLL 430 

COMPARISON  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  REGIMENTS 443 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


LIEUT. -GEN.  P.  H.  SHERIDAN Frontispiece 

PAGE 

COL.  ROBERT  WILSON Facing  6 

LIEUT. -COL.  T.  A.  BARKER "16 

GEN.  S.  A.  DUNCAN "26 

FIELD  AND  STAFF "36 

COMPANY-A  OFFICERS "46 

COMPANY-D  OFFICERS "56 

ON  THE  POTOMAC "66 

COMPANY-H  OFFICERS "76 

CAMP  AT  POOLESVILLE "86 

COMPANY-G  OFFICERS "96 

LIEUT. -CoL.  MARSTON  AND  OTHERS "    106 

COMPANY  OFFICERS "116 

YIEW  OF  HARPER'S  FERRY "    138 

MOUTH  OF  THE  SHENANDOAH "148 

CAMP  AT  MORGANZIA "    164 

A  GLIMPSE  OF  THE  SHENANDOAH "    182 

LOOKOUT  NEAR  HARPER'S  FERRY "    188 

CEDAR  CREEK "194 

CAMP  NEAR  BERRY VILLE "   200 

FORD  OF  THE  OPEQUAN "   206 

PLAN  OF  OPEQUAN  BATTLE "212 

COL.  ALEXANDER  GARDINER  .      " "   218 

LIEUT.  G.  H.  STONE "226 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE  MONUMENT "230 

OFFICERS  KILLED  AT  OPEQUAN "   238 

PLAN  OF  FISHER'  S-HILL  BATTLE "   246 

THE  STONE  BRIDGE  "   250 


xii  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 

BELLE  GROVE,  SHEKIDAST'S  HEADQTJAKTEKS        .       .       •       •  Facing  272 

PLAN  OF  CEDAK-CREEK  BATTLE "314 

COL.  C.  D.  WIUGHT u       344 

MAJ.OK  F.  L.  TOLMAN   . »       370 

IN  THE  VALLEY 


Fourteenth  New  Hampshire. 


i. 

ORGANIZATION. 

THE  first  great  impulse  had  spent  its  force.  War  was  no 
longer  a  romance,  and  the  novel  excitements  of  a  nation  in 
arms  had  measurably  subsided.  It  was  a  season  for  sober 
second  thought.  The  startling  change  from  the  peace  of  a 
century  to  war  as  a  general  avocation  had  become  so  signal  and 
complete  that  the  people  had  settled  down  to  conflict  as  to  an 
employment.  Through  all  the  North,  on  every  stream,  the 
busiest  industries  of  thriving  communities  were  fed  by  the 
demands  for  the  sustenance  of  a  dreadful  internecine  struggle. 
Every  illusion  had  been  dissipated  from  the  most  sanguine 
mind ;  the  alluring  glamours  of  Southern  campaigning  had 
been  torn  away ;  and  war  in  its  hardships,  disease,  and  carnage 
was  fearfully  exemplified  to  all  observers. 

In  that  war-weary  summer  of  1862  no  spirit  of  adventure 
could  have  tempted  one  thoughtful  man  from  his  home  among 
the  Granite  Hills.  Superficial  inducements  were  not  powerful 
in  the  presence  of  a  half-hearted  military  policy,  and  under  the 
shadow  of  Southern  battle-fields  where  triumphs  were  dubious, 
defeats  crushing,  and  every  engagement  of  doubtful  value  to 
the  loyal  cause.  It  required  a  good  deal  of  courage  and  deter 
mination  to  enlist  in  the  Union  armies  under  the  unprecedented 
calls  by  the  government  in  1862.  The  mere  mercenaries,  who 
were  bought  into  a  blue  uniform,  are  not  included  in  the  above 
as  any  worthy  characterization  of  our  volunteers.  The  con- 


2  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

ditions  varied  from  those  of  the  first  requisition.  If  some  of 
the  noblest  were  lost  to  each  community  when  the  initial  and 
awful  long  roll  was  sounded  which  turned  hamlets  into  camps, 
there  was  yet  a  compensation  in  the  wholesome  and  extensive 
deliverance  from  the  floating,  worthless,  and  dangerous  elements 
which  naturally  drifted  at  once  into  the  army.  Yet  if  there 
still  remained  a  spot  in  the  North  infested  by  something  of 
a  picnic  patriotism,  an  itching  for  novelty  and  greenbacks,  a 
being  constituted  to  enjoy  a  free  frolic  and  turn  an  easy  penny 
at  the  government's  expense,  there  were  avenues  opened  to 
brief  and  easy  terms  of  service  sufficient  to  accommodate  the 
applicants.  President  Lincoln's  call  for  three  hundred  thou 
sand  three-years'  troops  was  a  severe  drain  upon  the  North  ; 
and  it  came  home  to  the  best  fighting  element,  the  grand 
reserve  force,  of  the  country :  and  it  is  moderate  to  assert,  that, 
when  that  call  was  satisfied,  not  another  three  hundred  thou 
sand  of  equal  quality  could  have  been  enlisted  in  America. 
The  men  who  responded  were  not  Bohemians,  nor  mere  seekers 
for  a  better  fortune.  They  were  mostly  fixtures  in  society,  and 
in  every  relationship  there  was  a  sacrifice  when  they  took  the 
field. 

Under  previous  calls  New  Hampshire  had  sent  out  of  her 
sons  as  worthy  champions  as  any  who  enlisted  in  1862,  —  men 
whose  fighting  and  dying  immortalized  themselves,  and  secured 
to  their  Mother  Commonwealth  imperishable  honor.  But  this 
distinction  must  be  observed :  they  could,  generally,  go  to  their 
country's  defence  with  less  injury  to  dependent  interests  than 
was  possible  with  the  volunteers  of  1862,  who  sacrificed  so 
largely  industrial  and  family  interests  when  they  filled  the  last 
and  the  widest  gap.  These  volunteers  had  weighed  the 
momentous  question,  balancing  the  duty  to  home  and  depend 
ent  families  against  the  claims  of  patriotism,  for  almost  a  year 
and  a  half.  They  had  read  the  story  of  their  country's  need  in 
the  radiance  of  Fort  Donelson,  Nashville,  New  Orleans,  and  the 
puissant  "  cheese-box  on  a  raft "  in  Hampton  Roads.  Gloomily 
had  they  pondered  the  difference  between  fireside  and  bivouac 
in  the  lurid,  ominous  glare  reflected  from  the  earthworks  of 


A  FALSE  IMPUTATION. 

York  town,  the  deathly  intricacies  of  the  Chickahominy,  and 
the  splendid  disaster  of  Mai  vein  Hill.  Such  men  could  never 
tread  a  path  to  disaster  and  death  hedged  in  by  those  illusions 
which  might  deceive  and  ensnare  an  enthusiast.  They  were 
measurably  familiarized  with  the  realities  of  war,  and  many  of 
them  had  already  suffered  for  their  country  in  personal  and 
almost  inconsolable  bereavements. 

It  was  a  frequent  insinuation,  tending  to  disparage  our  volun 
teers,  that  they  enlisted  for  the  sake  of  the  bounty  offered.  It 
is  probable  that  thousands  of  uniforms  were  filled  by  green 
backs  ;  but  such  a  criticism  aimed  at  the  volunteers  of  1862 
was  a  false  and  needless  amputation.  There  were  bummers 
surely;  bounty-jumpers  taking  another  turn;  discharged  men 
from  older  regiments,  whose  disability  vanished  as  by%  miracle 
under  the  Midas  touch  of  a  big  town-bounty,  only  to  'conven 
iently  return  when  the  regiment  approached  hard  or  dangerous 
service ;  rheumatic  and  chronically  disabled  cheats,  conscious 
of  worthlessness,  but  also  covetous  of  a  bounty,  —  there  were 
found  such  foul  blemishes  upon  the  sturdy  battalions  whose 
tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  answered  back  to  a  beleaguered  capital 
and  to  sore-pressed  veterans,  — 

"  We  are  coming,  Father  Abraham, 
Three  hundred  thousand  more." 

The  men  who  established  the  personnel  of  those  regiments 
upon  an  exalted  level,  who  made  possible  such  an  esprit  du  corps 
as  first  presaged  and  finally  assured  victory  from  Maryland  to 
Texas,  were  not  purchased  candidates  for  maiming,  imprison 
ment,  and  death.  They  were  men  who  could  not  have  been 
bought  from  wife,  children,  and  the  family  home  of  generations 
for  one  hundred  or  one  thousand  dollars.  And  such  men  were 
the  overwhelming  majority  of  the  three-years'  volunteers  of  1862. 

It  is  quite  true  that  the  large  bounties  offered  finally  induced 
them  to  risk  the  heroic  and  costly  venture.  The  era  of  emo 
tional  patriotism  had  faded  into  the  past.  Sentimental,  Fourth- 
of-July  oratory  was  impotent  in  reconciling  the  average  citizen 
to  hard-tack,  Virginia  mud,  and  Rebel  bullets.  The  prevailing 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

argument  was  business-like  and  transparent :  "  We  know  what 
this  thing  means.  We  don't  want  to  fight,  but  we  can't  see  those 
rampant  Rebels  whip  us  and  destroy  the  Union:,  we  must  see 
the  government  through  this  job  of  putting  down  the  Rebel 
lion."  There  was  an  awful  majesty  in  the  cool  devotion  and 
deliberate  uprising  of  the  volunteers  in  1862.  And  the  gene 
rous  bounties  secured  the  best  material  in  all  the  North.  Men 
were  ready  to  peril  life  for  the  Union ;  but  they  would  not,  and 
ought  not  to,  peril  that  which  was  dearer  than  life,  more  sacred 
than  any  or  all  government,  —  their  families  and  homes.  As 
soon  as  the  proffered  bounties  were  sufficient  to  secure  home 
interests  and  guard  Against  pecuniary  calamity,  then  tens  of 
thousands  of  doughty  citizen-warriors  felt  and  said,  "  Now  we 
are  ready :  we  can  go  and  feel  easy  for  the  home  and  the  dear 
ones."  It  was  eminently  just  for  the  government  to  give  these 
men  a  lien  upon  the  future  prosperity  of  the  people  in  order  that 
their  home  as  well  as  their  country  might  abide  intact.  The 
high  bounties  paid  in  1862  simply  made  it  possible  for  the  best 
fighting  material  in  the  loyal  States  to  tender  its  invaluable  ser 
vice  to  the  government  in  its  pressing  need. 

When  the  enlistments  for  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  were 
made,  devotion  to  an  undivided  Union  and  an  indorsement  of 
the  government's  war  policy  were  as  unmistakable  as  in  the  era 
of  the  spring  uprising  of  1861,  with  this  difference :  that  the 
loyalty  of  1862  was  more  practical  and  less  effervescent.  There 
was  a  business-like  deliberateness  in  volunteering  which  must 
have  been  impossible  amid  the  excitements  of  the  initial  cam 
paign.  Such  a  condition  of  things  was  favorable  to  the  organi 
zation  of  strong  and  reliable  battalions  capable  of  the  highest 
efficiency. 

Had  the  regiment  been  organized  when  the  men  were  enlisted, 
it  would  have  been  numbered  Ten  rather  than  Fourteen :  in 
fact,  many  were  enlisted  for  the  Ninth.  The  Fourteenth  can 
not  be  denominated  a  Cheshire-county  regiment;  although  the 
colonel,  lieutenant-colonel,  and  four  of  the  companies  came 
from  that  county.  The  other  companies  were  raised  in  the 
counties  of  Sullivan,  Grafton,  Coos,  Carroll,  Merrimack,  and 
Hillsborough. 


COMPANY  SKETCHES.  5 

A  single  sentence  must  suffice  in  which  to  comment  upon  a 
subject  whose  discussion  and  resultant  antagonisms  affected  the 
regiment  throughout  its  history,  and  proved  detrimental  to 
harmony  and  the  highest  discipline  during  the  first  year  of  ser 
vice.  In  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  there  was  an  unfortu 
nate  combination  of  uncongenial  official  elements.  Happily  the 
intelligence  and  devotion  of  the  officers  and  men  were  more 
than  sufficient  to  endure  the  strain ;  so  that  what  in  many  cases 
would  have  ended  in  demoralization,  in  the  Fourteenth  simply 
retarded  the  development  of  that  splendid  efficiency  as  a  mili 
tary  organization  of  which  the  regiment  was  indisputably  capa 
ble.  Considering  the  injustice  in  the  matter  of  promotions, 
which  was  inflicted  upon  a  large  number  of  the  finest  officers 
in  the  regiment,  this  volume  would  be  seriously  incomplete  with 
no  allusion  to  what  so  largely  controlled  and  crippled  its  life. 
Yet  in  the  crucial  hour  of  battle,  when  the  regiment  was  to 
write  its  immortal  or  ignoble  page  in  history,  it  rose  in  its  might 
out  of  all  disabilities ;  and  perpetuating  that  spirit,  we  consign 
all  the  unpleasant  past  to  oblivion. 


In  the  arrangement  of  this  volume,  the  following  pages  are 
assigned  to  sketches  of  the  several  companies.  It  was  intended 
that  each  company  should  have  the  same  amount  of  space  ; 
and,  so  far  as  material  has  been  furnished,  this  purpose  has  been 
realized.  Each  company  is  responsible  for  the  space  taken. 
The  sketches  are  of  local  and  company  value,  and  they  gather 
up  and  preserve  many  interesting  circumstances  and  incidents 
which  otherwise  might  be  lost  beyond  recovery.  The  scope  of 
these  company  sketches  covers  the  history  of  the  recruits  up  to 
the  time  when  they  were  incorporated  in  the  regimental  organ 
ization,  when  the  record  of  the  regiment  proper  begins.  In  the 
preparation  of  these  papers  we  are  indebted  to  the  following 
comrades:  The  sketches  of  A,  D,  H,  and  G,  were  written 
respectively  by  Capt.  C.  P.  Hall,  Capt.  C.  W.  Hodgdon,  Lieut. 
M.  M.  Holmes,  and  Capt.  J.  W.  Sturtevant.  That  of  Company 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

I  was  largely  written  by  Sergt.  G.  H.  Stowell,  Sergt.  R.  Hun- 
toon  furnishing  valuable  material  for  the  remainder.  Material 
for  the  other  sketches  was  furnished  as  follows :  for  B  by  Sergt. 
G.  A.  Sherman ;  C,  by  Col.  C.  D.  Wright ;  K,  by  Lieut.-Col. 
O.  H.  Marston  and  Lieut.  O.  C.  Mason ;  E,  by  Capt.  William 
Cobleigh. 

COMPANY  A. 

Of  the  one  hundred  men  who  composed  the  original  company, 
seventy-two  were  recruited  by  Frank  T.  Barker,  at  Keene, 
Westmoreland,  and  Hinsdale;  and  twenty-eight  by  Charles  P. 
Hall,  at  Westmoreland,  Dublin,  and  Sullivan.  All  were  enlisted 
between  August  1  and  September  1,  thirty-seven  in  one  day  at 
Hinsdale.  The  following  were  the  towns  represented :  viz., 
Hinsdale,  forty;  Westmoreland,  twenty-two;  Dublin,  twelve; 
Marlborough,  six ;  Keene,  five ;  Sullivan,  four ;  Surry,  three ; 
l^itzwilliam,Troy,  and  Swanzey,  two  each  ;  Chesterfield  and  Mar- 
low,  one  each.  The  average  age  of  the  men  was  twenty-three 
and  a  half  years ;  and  there  were  in  the  company's  ranks  men 
who  had  been  farmers,  machinists,  mill-operatives,  students,  and 
one  each  employed  as  teacher,  express-messenger,  mechanic, 
laborer,  teamster,  clerk. 

It  seems  that  the  authorities  of  Hinsdale  had  the  impression 
that  the  quota  of  their  town  would  be  about  forty,  and  called  a 
meeting,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  two  hundred 
dollars,  and  to  raise  eight  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose. 
Soon  after  it  was  learned  that  the  quota  was  only  about  twenty. 
In  the  mean  time  the  forty  had  enlisted.  Now  came  the  ques 
tions,  "Who  shall  go?"  "Shall  the  whole  bounty  be  paid?" 
Some  urged  the  filling  of  only  the  exact  quota.  Excitement 
ran  high :  the  boys  were  just  ready  to  mutiny  if  they  could  not 
all  go  together.  A  town-meeting  was  called,  at  which  wiser 
counsels  prevailed;  and,  by  a  large  majority,  it  was  voted  to  pay 
the  full  number  that  had  enlisted.  This  satisfied  the  boys,  and 
proved  the  best  thiug  for  the  town  in  every  way ;  for  the  extra 
men  were  set  down  to  the  credit  of  the  town  in  subsequent 
calls,  when  it  was  not  so  easy  to  get  men.  It  shows  at  what  a 


A   PRESENTATION.  7 

fever  pitch  the  patriotic  impulse  of  the  North  was  beating  dur 
ing  this  summer  of  1862. 

Arrangements  having  been  made  for  tents  and  rations,  the  men 
went  into  camp  September  2,  near  Westmoreland  South  Village. 
The  next  day  the  company  was  organized  by  the  election  of 
commissioned  and  appointment  of  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  the  organization  was  ratified  at  Concord.  The  camp  was 
afterwards  named  "  Camp  Jack."  The  company  had  regular 
drill  each  day  under  the  direction  of  Col.  T.  A.  Barker,  and 
the  camp  was  visited  by  numbers  of  citizens  from  the  town  and 
vicinity.  There  was  enough  of  real  army  life  about  this  soldier- 
camp  to  awaken  an  unusual  interest  in  every  thing  that  per 
tained  to  the  war. 

The  ladies  gave  the  company  a  generous  reception  at  the 
Town  Hall  a  few  evenings  before  the  departure  for  Concord, 
where  the  dear  women  vied  with  each  other  in  kindly  attention 
to  those  whose  names  had  gone  down  on  the  roll.  The  display 
of  flowers,  the  heavily-laden  tables,  and  the  earnest  words,  told 
a  story  which  the  boys  delighted  to  recount  by  their  camp-fires. 
A  beautiful  flag  was  presented  to  the  company,  which  floated 
over  its  every  camp  till  the  summer  of  '64. 

Miss  E.  J.  Aldrich  (now  Mrs.  Dr.  Cutler  of  Swanzey)  accom 
panied  the  gift  with  fitting  words,  to  which  Capt.  Barker 
responded. 

Again,  after  the  return  in  the  summer  of  1865,  the  ladies  gave 
the  men  a  "  welcome  home  "  at  the  same  place.  Miss  Aldrich 
again  spoke  the  words,  which  found  an  echo  in  many  a  heart 
gathered  that  day  on  the  village  green.  Capt.  Barker  voiced 
the  feelings  of  "  the  boys  "  as  he  told  how  they  had  been  cheered 
in  all  their  months  of  absence  by  kindly  memories  of  the  dear 
ones  at  home,  and  of  the  deep  interest  felt  in  them,  shown  in  so 
many  ways.  But  wounds  in  some  hearts  were  re-opened,  and 
other  hearts  beat  in  warm  sympathy,  as  he  told  of  those  who 
came  not  back,  —  whose  life  went  out  along  the  banks  of  the 
Potomac,  of  the  Mississippi,  of  the  Shenandoah,  —  slowly  in  hos 
pital  shelter,  or  quickly  on  the  field  of  strife. 

In  obedience    to  orders,  the  company  broke  camp  on   the 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

morning  of  September  20,  and  proceeded  to  Concord,  where  it 
joined  other  companies  the  same  afternoon.  The  men  marched 
four  miles  to  the  station  at  East  Westmoreland,  where  cars  had 
been  left  for  them,  and  thence  by  rail,  via  Ayer  Junction  and 
Nashua,  to  the  place  of  rendezvous.  The  line  of  that  first 
march,  in  the  early  morning  of  a  beautiful  autumn  day,  was  a 
continuous  ovation.  Such  had  never  been  seen  before,  and  may 
never  be  seen  again,  in  that  quiet  town.  Men  had  gone  out 
singly  and  in  squads  to  preserve  our  old  flag  whole,  but  here 
was  a  full  company  marching  out  to  the  music  of  the  Union  to 
make  a  part  of  the  "three  hundred  thousand  more." 

From  village,  cottage,  farmhouse,  roadside,  and  depot  plat 
form  ;  from  gray-haired  men  and  women,  whose  memories 
reached  back  almost  to  the  war  of  Independence ;  from  fathers 
and  mothers  in  vigor  of  life ;  from  trembling  wives  with  little 
ones  in  their  arms ;  from  maidens  with  cheeks  paled  by  love  for 
father,  brother,  or  "  one  dearer  than  all  other ;  "  from  admiring 
boys  and  girls,  learning  lessons  in  patriotism  never  learned  be 
fore  ;  speaking  out  from  trembling  lips,  moistened  eyes,  waving 
kerchiefs,  and  hearty  hand-grips,  —  came  the  cheering  "  God  bless 
you  and  keep  you  !  "  which  echoed  on  and  on  long  after  the  rear 
end  of  the  train  had  passed  out  of  sight.  With  the  arrival  at 
Concord,  and  mustering  in  September  22,  the  separate  history  of 
Company  A  closes. 

COMPANY   B. 

Two  of  the  most  flourishing  towns  on  the  Connecticut  River 
furnished  the  larger  part  of  this  company,  while  two  other 
adjacent  communities  assisted  in  completing  the  roll  of  mem 
bership.  The  men  of  Company  B  were  somewhat  conspicuous 
among  their  fellows  in  the  battalion  for  their  size,  height,  and 
fine  appearance.  The  recruiting  officers  were,  John  G.  John 
son  and  Artemas  M.  Adams  of  Walpole,  Charles  E.  Holbrook 
and  Henry  E.  Barrett  of  Charlestown,  Henry  Knight  of  Mar- 
low.  There  were  enlisted  for  this  company,  in  the  town  of 
Walpole,  fifty-one  men  ;  in  the  town  of  Charlestown,  thirty-five  ; 
Maiiow  furnished  thirteen ;  Alstead  bringing  the  number  to 


PUBLIC  ENTHUSIASM.  9 

one  hundred  and  one  by  the  addition  of  its  two,  who  were 
enlisted  by  Joel  Bullard.  Enlistments  for  this  company  began 
July  28,  the  last  man  being  recruited  September  13.  Up  to 
August  11,  fifteen  had  enlisted ;  the  majority  coming  in  within 
the  next  week  or  two. 

The  towns  in  which  this  company  was  recruited  were  gener 
ous  and  enthusiastic  in  the  public-spirited  and  patriotic  efforts 
put  forth  to  organize  and  send  forth  a  body  of  men  which 
should  worthily  represent  the  intelligence  and  virtue  of  those 
communities.  Men  and  women  vied  with  each  other  in  their 
endeavors  to  send  their  sons,  brothers,  husbands,  and  fathers 
forth  to  battle,  not  only  well  equipped,  physically  and  mate 
rially,  but  armed  with  that  faith  and  courage  which  relies  upon 
ready  hands  and  true  hearts  among  those  who  speed  them  on 
their  dangerous  way. 

A  somewhat  peculiar  experience  was  the  lot  of  a  portion  of 
the  company.  It  was  enlisted  for  the  Ninth  Regiment,  and 
soon  after  enrolment  was  ordered  to  Concord,  and  went  into 
camp  there  with  the  expectation  of  becoming  incorporated  into 
that  organization.  The  good  sense  of  some  prominent  men  at 
home  assured  a  different  destiny.  It  was  considered  that 
obvious  advantages  would  result  from  the  formation  of  a  full 
company  in  the  towns  above  mentioned.  The  health  and  hap 
piness  of  the  men  would  certainly  be  enhanced  by  the  transfer 
of  a  community  of  interest  and  acquaintance  from  home  locali 
ties  to  the  theatre  of  active  service.  Prominent  citizens  pre 
pared  a  petition  and  presented  it  to  the  authorities  at  Concord. 
It  accomplished  its  desired  end :  the  men  were  permitted  to 
return  home,  and  they  were  at  once  embodied  in  that  organiza 
tion  which  was  afterward  known  as  Company  B  of  the  Four 
teenth. 

The  Walpole  squad  rendezvoused  in  the  village  of  that  town, 
and  enjoyed  picturesque  camp-life  in  A  tents  on  the  common. 
This  was  an  interesting  feature  in  the  early  soldiering  days  of 
that  portion  of  the  company,  both  to  the  members  and  to  the 
townspeople.  The  boys  created  a  somewhat  lively  series  of 
events  in  the  place,  but  their  presence  was  much  enjoyed.  The 


10  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

writer  understands  that  the  Charlestown  part  of  the  company 
also  rendezvoused  in  the  latter  place,  and  enjoyed  the  advantages 
of  a  good  deal  of  a  good  time  and  considerable  drilling.  The 
company  was  drilled  to  some  extent  by  Cadet  Meade,  and  by 
Mr.  J.  G.  Johnson  and  other  membtrs  of  the  company. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  September  Company  B  left  Walpole, 
and  proceeded  by  the  way  of  Hillsborough  Bridge  to  Concord. 
It  arrived  there  that  afternoon,  drew  enough  utensils  to  barely 
set  up  military  housekeeping,  and  marched  into  camp,  being  the 
third  company  on  the  ground.  The  company  at  once  proceeded 
to  perform  the  necessary  police-duty,  and  also  gave  assiduous 
attention  to  drill.  The  youngest  man  in  the  company  was  six 
teen,  while  the  oldest  was  reported  as  forty -four.  The  average 
age  of  the  company  was  twenty-five  and  a  half  years. 

The  company  held  an  election  of  officers,  with  the  result 
which  appears  in  the  roster.  On  the  22d  of  September  the 
company  was  mustered  into  the  United-States  service,  being 
one  of  the  first  companies  of  the  regiment  to  pass  from  State 
to  National  control.  The  roster  of  Company  B,  as  finally  com 
pleted,  comprised  three  officers  and  ninety-eight  men.  Of  these, 
two  were  afterward  lost  by  desertion.  This  company,  coming 
from  the  counties  of  Cheshire  and  Sullivan,  was  representative 
of,  and  an  honor  to,  both. 


COMPANY  D. 

When  the  call  was  made  for  three  hundred  thousand  men  to 
serve  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  every  town  began  to  look 
about  for  men  to  fill  its  quota ;  and  good  bounties  were  offered 
as  an  inducement,  so  that  many  a  good  man  and  true  could  see 
his  way  clear  to  enlist,  leaving  his  family  in  comfortable  cir 
cumstances.  While  some  men,  who  doubted  the  ability  of  the 
country  to  meet  so  large  a  call,  and  fearing  a  draft,  suddenly 
found  themselves  afflicted  with  some  "  chronic  "  ailment,  which 
until  then  had  been  so  carefully  concealed  that  even  their  most 
intimate  friends  had  never  suspected  it,  the  large  majority 
nobly  stepped  forth,  ready  to  vindicate  their  country's  claims 


QUAKER  LOYALTY.  11 

under  the  guardianship  of  the  national  eagle,  and  ready  (as 
Yankee  Adams  says)  to  wallop  the  pinfeathers  out  of  any 
other  bird  that  might  lay  claim  to  jurisdiction  anywhere  within 
our  borders. 

The  town  of  Weare  (though  manifestly  a  town  of  peace, 
being  the  home  of  many  an  honest  Quaker,  who  delight  not 
themselves  in  the  turmoils  of  war)  became  aroused,  and  meet 
ings  were  called  to  take  measures  for  filling  its  quota ;  and, 
during  the  excitement  that  followed,  it  would  have  been  ex 
ceedingly  hard  for  a  stranger  to  distinguish  between  the  peace- 
loving  Quaker  and  the  carnal-minded  man  of  war,  except  by 
the  brim  of  his  hat.  It  was  deemed  best  for  some  townsman  to 
open  a  recruiting-office.  Mr.  George  Foster,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens,  taking  Dr.  C.  W.  Hodgdon  with  him,  called  upon  Dr. 
A.  B.  Story,  a  prominent  man,  asking  him  to  assume  the  respon 
sibility  of  raising  a  company  and  taking  command  of  it.  The 
doctor  said  that  it  would  be  utterly  impossible  for  him  to  do  so, 
but  would  do  all  in  his  power  to  forward  the  good  work,  and 
requested  Dr.  Hodgdon  to  take  the  place.  After  consultation 
with  influential  men  of  the  town,  he  concluded  to  do  so ;  and, 
assisted  by  their  efforts,  the  quota  was  soon  filled  with  a  class 
of  intelligent,  able-bodied  men.  No  opportunity  was  offered 
for  company  drill,  as  the  time  was  limited  and  the  men  scat 
tered.  A  few  men  were  recruited  in  the  east  part  of  the  town 
by  Mr.  Stark  Fellows.  The  majority  of  the  men  from  Weare 
were  desirous  of  joining  the  Eleventh  Regiment  under  Col. 
Harriman  if  possible ;  but  the  regiment  was  filled  before 
arrangements  could  be  made.  They  were  consequently  as 
signed  to  the  Fourteenth.  Combinations  were  made  with 
squads  from  other  towns.  A  second  squad  was  from  Seabrook, 
recruited  by  J.  N.  Brown ;  some  from  Deering,  by  E.  D.  Had- 
ley ;  others  from  Hampton,  by  Warren  Dow  ;  a  few  from  Man 
chester,  by  J.  N.  Bruce ;  several  from  Kensington ;  and  a  few  | 
from  various  parts  of  the  State,  secured  by  C.  W.  Hodgdon,  to 
fill  the  company  to  the  maximum  (98). 

The  company  did  not  rendezvous  at  any  place  outside  of  the 
camp  at  Concord  :  consequently  but  little  was  learned  of  soldier- 


12  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

ing  previous  to  that  time.  The  quota  from  Deering  joined 
those  from  Weare  at  the  depot,  North  Weare,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  September  15,  1862,  where  a  goodly  number  of  relatives 
and  friends  had  gathered  to  bid  them  "  God-speed."  Patriotic 
remarks  were  made  by  William  H.  Gove  and  others.  Hands 
were  shaken,  good-bys  were  spoken,  and  the  train  sped  on  its 
way,— 

4  *  As  if  it  bore  all  peace  within , 
Nor  left  one  sorrowing  heart  behind." 

To  many  of  the  boys  at  that  time,  soldiering  meant  fun  and  a 
good  time  generally ;  but  to  those  mothers,  wives,  and  sisters 
who  remained  behind,  it  meant  tearful  watching,  lonely  hours, 
and  sleepless  nights.  At  East  Weare  we  were  joined  by  Stark 
Fellows  and  his  men. 

I  am  not  familiar  with  the  circumstances  attending  the 
recruiting  in  Seabrook,  and  give  the  facts  as  I  gather  them 
from  the  men.  When  the  call  was  made,  meetings  were  called, 
and  good  bounties  offered.  J.  N.  Brown  opened  a  recruiting- 
office.  The  first  man  enlisting  under  this  call  was  Francis 
Beckman,  August  11,  1862. 

Recruiting  progressed  quite  rapidly.  Street-parades  and 
other  methods  were  adopted  to  arouse  the  patriotism  and  fill 
the  quota ;  but  all  discipline  was  at  a  discount,  and  but  little 
effort  was  made  to  enforce  it.  It  seemed  to  be  the  universal 
intent  to  have  a  good  time  while  they  could.  I  was  present 
once  when  they  met  for  parade.  What  uniforms  they  had  were 
of  the  Zouave  pattern.  Some  of  the  men  were  armed  with 
muskets,  although  as  soldiers  they  had  not  learned  their  use ; 
but,  as  marksmen,  many  of  them  could  hardly  be  excelled. 

When  about  ready  to  march,  a  coach  arrived  from  Hampton 
with  several  men  in  charge  of  J.  H.  Perkins  (afterwards  ser 
geant),  bearing  a  large  placard,  "  Raw  recruits  for  Seabrook." 
Owing  to  some  misapprehension  about  the  meaning  of  the  card, 
a  disturbance  arose,  the  card  was  torn  down,  and  the  "raw 
recruits  "  did  not  join  in  the  march.  After  a  good  deal  of  talk, 
in  which  every  man  had  just  as  much  right  to  speak  as  any  other 
man,  the  men  were  formed  in  line,  headed  by  the  Newton  Band 


THE  BOYS   GET   TIRED.  13 

of  about  fourteen  pieces,  and  the  procession  moved.  It  was  a 
hot  day,  and  the  march  was  for  about  six  miles  over  a  dusty 
road;  and  such  a  march  I  have  never  witnessed,  before  or 
since.  A  little  out  of  the  village  they  passed  the  house  of  one 
of  their  jolly  acquaintances,  when  several  of  the  men  threw 
their  muskets  over  the  fence,  and  went  in:  that  ended  their 
campaign  for  the  day.  And  long  afterward,  while  campaign 
ing  on  the  Potomac,  I  asked  John  Locke  (then  a  non-commis 
sioned  officer)  if  he  ever  found  the  musket  which  he  threw  over 
the  fence.  He  said  he  never  thought  to  look  for  it,  —  would  do 
so  "  when  this  cruel  war  is  over." 

The  strains  of  martial  music,  mingled  with  the  noise  of  the 
passing  soldiery,  aroused  the  enthusiasm  of  both  man  and  beast. 
Two  dogs,  entering  into  the  spirit  of  the  occasion,  commenced  a 
fierce  assault  upon  each  other  just  around  the  corner,  when  the 
men  broke  ranks,  and  made  a  rush  for  the  scene  of  combat, 
formed  a  "hollow  square"  around  the  combatants,  determined 
to  see  fair  play,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  "prize-ring." 
The  officer  in  command  shouted  himself  hoarse,  telling  the 
men  to  keep  their  places,  and  not  leave  the  ranks;  but,  finding 
it  of  no  avail,  himself  joined  the  crowd,  and  offered  to  bet  two 
to  one  on  the  "  brindle  purp."  The  weary  march  finally  came 
to  an  end,  some  of  the  men  hardly  able  to  reach  the  starting- 
point,  owing  to  the  excessive  heat.  Had  the  weather  been 
cooler,  some  other  cause  might  have  been  ascribed. 

On  the  1 5th  of  September  most  of  the  men  took  passage  in 
coaches  for  Exeter,  thence  by  rail  to  camp  in  Concord.  At 
Manchester  the  two  wings  of  the  company  met  for  the  first 
time.  The  quotas  from  Seabrook,  Hampton,  and  Kensington 
were  in  charge  of  Mr.  J.  N.  Brown.  Though  strangers  to  each 
other,  they  soon  became  the  best  of  friends.  Arriving  at  Con 
cord  the  company  formed  and  marched  to  Camp  Cheshire,  on 
the  old  fair-ground,  where  other  regiments  were  already  quar 
tered,  and  far  advanced  in  the  mysteries  of  soldiering.  The 
company  was  assigned  to  barracks. 

In  camp  we  were  joined  by  Mr.  J.  N.  Bruce  of  Manchester, 
with  four  men.  The  company  was  made  up  of  all  sizes,  from 


14  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

Ira  E.  Brown  on  the  right,  six  feet  three  inches,  to  P.  C.  White 
on  the  left,  who  was  one-half  inch  below  regulation  height ;  but 
he  proved  to  be  tough :  and  when  occasionally  the  two  happened 
to  be  detailed  together  for  guard,  or  other  duty,  they  looked 
like  "  David  and  Goliah  gwine  out  for  to  fight."  Nearly  all 
occupations  were  represented  in  the  company;  the  majority 
having  led  indoor  lives,  which  were  not  supposed  to  have  fitted 
them  for  the  hard,  rough  exercise  of  a  soldier  on  active  duty. 
The  very  exercise  and  hardship  which  we  feared  would  prove 
so  destructive  seemed  to  be  just  what  was  required  to  develop 
their  health  and  muscle,  and,  instead  of  breaking  them  down, 
made  them  numerically  the  strongest  company  for  duty ;  fewer 
of  its  men  dying  from  natural  causes  than  in  any  other  com 
pany  of  the  regiment.  The  usual  trouble  was  experienced  on 
first  going  into  camp ;  viz.,  that  of  trying  to  enforce  discipline 
among  men  accustomed  to  have  their  own  head  :  but  by  dealing 
with  them  kindly,  yet  firmly,  they  gradually  became  accustomed 
to  it,  and  soon  learned  how  easy  it  is  to  combine  the  soldier 
with  the  man. 

The  first  night  in  camp  was  one  long  to  be  remembered. 
All  through  the  day  some  of  the  men  had  been  holding  little 
conference  meetings  (so  to  speak),  and,  as  Artemus  Ward 
said,  "moistening  their  diaphragms  from  time  to  time."  At 
last,  when  wearied  of  all  other  kinds  of  pastime,  they  gradually 
straggled  into  their  barracks,  looking  like  any  thing  but  "  our 
country's  gallant  defenders."  When  all  were  quietly  and 
sweetly  sleeping,  one  man,  more  thoughtful  than  the  rest,  pro 
cured  a  camp-kettle  filled  with  water,  and,  armed  with  a  tin 
dipper,  came  in,  and  shouted,  "  Water,  water,  anybody  want 
water?"  All  had  retired  weary,  many  of  them  very  dusty 
(in  the  throat).  Nearly  everybody  was  dry.  "  O  Sam  !  give 
me  a  drink,"  came  from  every  quarter ;  and  one  man  said  he 
"  hadn't  been  so  dry  for  thirteen  years  come  Thursday."  The 
same  kind-hearted  individual  visited  us  about  once  an  hour 
until  morning.  There  were  more  parched  tongues  and  throats 
to  the  square  foot  that  night  in  the  barracks  of  Company  D 
than  could  ordinarily  be  found  in  a  sabbath-day's  journey. 


TEMPTING    THE   CAPTAIN.  15 

One  little  incident  occurred  which  served  to  show  what  strict 
watch  it  was  necessary  to  keep  on  that  class  of  cormorants 
who  were  living  and  growing  fat  while  their  country  was 
struggling  for  existence.  I  mean  those  men  who  were  supply 
ing  recruits,  and,  after  receiving  their  bounties,  induced  them 
to  desert,  and  put  them  in  again  elsewhere.  One  of  this  class, 
who  had  supplied  three  men  for  Company  D,  approached  the 
captain  one  day  just  at  dark,  and  said,  "  Cap,  if  you  will  give  K. 
a  pass  to  the  city  to-night,  and  let  him  take  his  citizen's  clothes 
with  him,  I  will  give  you  twenty-five  dollars."  The  captain 
thought  for  a  few  moments,  promised  the  required  pass,  and 
was  paid  twenty-five  dollars.  Thinking,  as  did  Hosea  Bigelow, 
"  'Taint  a  knowin'  kind  of  cattle  that  is  catched  with  mouldy 
corn,"  he  immediately  called  Sergt.  P.,  and  said,  "  Sergeant, 
I  want  you  to  go  to  the  city  to-night :  K.  is  going  over ;  keep  a 
close  watch  on  him,  and,  if  you  see  any  thing  that  excites  your 
suspicion,  take  him  by  the  collar,  and  persuade  him  to  return 
with  you  to  camp."  About  half-past  ten  K.  came  trudging  into 
camp,  bundle  in  hand,  with  Sergt.  P.  about  ten  feet  behind. 

After  the  novelty  of  the  first  few  days  had  passed  away,  the 
men  adjusted  themselves  to  the  discipline  of  a  soldier's  life,  and 
made  very  creditable  progress  in  drill,  particularly  in  the 
manual  of  arms,  under  the  instruction  of  Warren  Clarke,  Esq., 
an  efficient  drill-master.  The  men  grumbled  a  little  when  they 
were  furnished  with  hatchets,  grub-hoes,  picks,  etc.,  and  sent 
out  to  clear  the  ground  adjoining  their  barracks  of  bashes  and 
stubs. 

The  examination  of  the  men  by  the  regimental  surgeons  was 
not  as  strict  as  it  might  have  been,  but  most  of  the  men  were 
strong  and  able-bodied.  One  man,  who  was  mustered  in  at 
forty-four,  two  years  after  was  mustered  out  at  sixty-two :  so 
fast  do  men  grow  old  when  in  active  service ! 

Although  the  designation  of  company  officers  was  under 
stood  to  have  been  fixed  during  the  recruiting  of  the  men,  soon 
after  arriving  in  camp  opposition  to  the  proposed  arrangement 
showed  itself  in  certain  quarters.  Thinking  it  best  to  have  the 
matter  settled  before  further  trouble  grew  out  of  it,  C.  W. 


16  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

Hodgdon  formed  the  company  in  a  square,  and  addressed  them 
on  the  subject:  Messrs.  Fellows  and  Brown  did  the  same.  A 
vote  was  then  taken,  and  C.  W.  Hodgdon  was  elected  captain. 
One  of  the  members  of  the  Governor's  Council,  who  was  pres 
ent,  decided,  from  the  strong  feeling  shown  by  the  men,  that 
it  would  not  be  best  to  disregard  that  feeling,  and  commis 
sion  any  one  else  as  captain.  C.  W.  Hodgdon  was  commis 
sioned  captain,  Stark  Fellows  first  lieutenant,  and  John  N. 
Brown  second  lieutenant.  The  captain  requested  the  lieuten 
ants  to  select  such  men  from  their  own  squads  as  they  deemed 
best  fitted  for  non-commissioned  officers,  each  receiving  its  pro 
portion.  The  captain  selected  E.  D.  Hadley  for  orderly-ser 
geant,  which  was  a  wise  appointment,  as  he  proved  to  be  one  of 
the  best  orderly-sergeants  in  the  regiment;  being  able,  as  soon 
as  he  became  familiar  with  the  company's  names,  to  call  the  roll, 
make  out  all  details  for  guard  and  other  duties,  entirely  from 
memory,  without  reference  to  his  written  list,  —  quite  a  conven 
ience,  especially  when  the  roll  had  to  be  called  before  daylight. 

Most  of  the  men  selected  for  non-commissioned  officers  were 
well  fitted  for  their  positions,  and  did  much  to  assist  in  keeping 
up  the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the  company.  When  the 
company  was  marched  over  to  the  city  to  draw  their  clothing 
from  the  government  storehouse,  then  the  trouble  commenced. 
Some  who  had  been  accustomed,  as  was  Joshua  Whitcomb,  to 
go  down  to  the  store  and  have  their  clothes  cut  for  them,  found 
it  hard  to  be  suited;  and,  after  doing  the  best  we  could  in  mak 
ing  selections,  some  of  the  fits  were  like  Sairy  Gamp,  "kind  o' 
promiscuous  like." 

The  company  was  mustered  into  the  United-States  service 
September  24,  Company  D  being  the  fourth  in  rank.  When 
the  regiment  left  the  State  on  the  18th  of  October,  for  the  seat 
of  war,  many  friends  of  the  company  from  Weare  came  to 
Concord  to  bid  them,  for  aught  they  knew,  a  last  farewell,  and 
watched  with  tearful  eyes  the  vanishing  train,  offering  up  a 
silent  prayer  for  their  safe  return. 


irsJr 


TOWN  ACTIVITY.  -U 

COMPANY   I. 

This  company  was  gathered  from  a  widely  extended  area, 
comprising  twenty-eight  towns,  mostly  in  Sullivan  County ; 
although  quite  a  number  of  the  recruits  were  from  the  eastern 
and  middle  sections  of  the  State.  The  following  towns  fur 
nished  the  members  of  Company  I:  Cornish,  eighteen;  New 
port,  sixteen;  Grantham,  eleven;  Claremonc,  ten;  Washington, 
seven;  Seabrook,  six;  Newbury,  five;  Bradford,  Charlestown, 
Plainfield,  each  four;  Croydon,  Unity,  each  three;  Acworth, 
New  Market,  each  two;  and  Chichester,  Dalton,  Effingham, 
Goshen,  Hanover,  Holderness,  Lancaster,  Lempster,  Langdon, 
Portsmouth,  Piermont,  Stewartstown,  and  Somersworth,  one 
each.  Six  members  of  the  company  were  not  located.  The 
following  are  the  principal  recruiting-officers,  and  the  number 
of  men  they  enlisted:  Sylvanus  Clogston,  at  Claremont  and 
Washington,  twenty-nine ;  D.  F.  Pike,  at  Newport,  seventeen ; 
Sylvester  M.  Bugbee,  at  Cornish  Flat,  nine;  W.  H.  H.  Cowles, 
at  Grantham,  seven;  T.  A.  Ripley,  at  Portsmouth,  seven; 
Dudley  J.  Pillsbury,  at  Grantham,  five;  Chester  Pike,  West 
Lebanon,  five;  Ransom  Huntoon,  Unity,  four;  William  H. 
Chaffin,  Claremont,  three;  Mason  W.  Tappan,  of  Bradford, 
three ;  Alexander  Gardiner,  at  Claremont,  two.  The  first  men 
who  enlisted  in  the  company  were  N.  L.  Chandler,  Simeon  S. 
Dodge,  and  R.  Huntoon,  August  12,  and  F.  S.  Stowell,  August 
13.  The  balance  of  those  who  formed  the  original  organization 
were  mostly  enlisted  between  August  20  and  September  1. 

During  this  time  the  several  towns  were  active  in  their  efforts 
to  encourage  enlistments.  About  the  middle  of  August  the 
citizens  of  Grantham  met  in  the  town-hall :  and,  after  several 
stirring  and  patriotic  addresses,  an  appeal  was  made  for  enlist 
ments  ;  and  a  dozen  men  responded.  This  town  paid  two  hun 
dred  dollars  bounty  to  each  of  its  men  who  enlisted  for  the 
Fourteenth.  The  towns  of  Lempster,  Washington,  and  Charles- 
town  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each 
volunteer.  The  little  town  of  Unity  was  reported  to  be  some 
what  imbued  with  a  non-aggressive  spirit  in  regard  to  the  strug- 


18  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

gle,  but  it  had  enough  loyal  hearts  in  it  to  enable  a  small  sum 
to  be  voted  to  recruits. 

A  town-meeting  was  held  in  Newport  on  the  evening  of  July 
26,  to  take  counsel  in  reference  to  the  speedy  enlistment  of  vol 
unteers.  The  hall  was  crowded.  National  airs  were  played  by 
the  Newport  cornet-band,  and  a  general  feeling  of  enthusiasm 
prevailed.  Paul  C.  Wheeler  offered  to  give  ten  dollars  each  to 
the  first  twenty-five  Newport  men  who  should  enlist,  in  addition 
to  the  town  bounty.  Several  similar  meetings  were  held  during 
August  and  the  early  part  of  September.  On  the  9th  of  Sep 
tember,  Hon.  W.  P.  Wheeler  of  Keene  addressed  a  large  and 
enthusiastic  audience  in  the  Newport  town -hall ;  and,  at  the  close 
of  the  meeting,  Rev.  P.  S.  Adams  and  several  others  enlisted. 
Cornish  also  paid  liberal  bounties  to  its  volunteers,  and  mate 
rially  aided  their  families. 

The  citizens  of  Cornish  Flat  gave  a  supper  and  reception  to 
Company  I  at  the  hotel,  which  was  a  very  pleasant  and  enjoya 
ble  affair,  gratefully  remembered  by  all  who  were  present.  The 
people  of  Claremont  were  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the  call 
of  President  Lincoln  for  seventy-five  thousand  men,  enlisting  a 
full  company.  They  also  furnished  large  detachments  for  the 
Second  and  Third  Regiments,  nearly  a  full  company  for  the 
fighting  Fifth,  and  were  largely  represented  in  the  Sixth  and 
Seventh.  Yet,  when  the  President  called  for  three  hundred 
thousand  more  in  the  summer  of  1862,  the  citizens  of  Clare 
mont,  alive  to  the  necessities  of  the  hour,  heartily  responded 
to  the  new  demands  of  the  government.  At  its  annual  meeting 
in  March,  the  town  had  voted  to  apply  five  thousand  dollars  to 
the  families  of  volunteers.  Early  in  July,  E.  W.  Wooddil  was 
appointed  to  recruit  for  regiments  then  forming;  and,  soon  after, 
Orville  Smith  of  Lempster,  and  Sylvanus  Clogston  of  Washing 
ton,  opened  recruiting-offices  in  the  town. 

During  the  month  of  July  a  series  of  public  meetings  were 
held  in  the  commodious  town-hall,  which  increased  in  attend 
ance  and  enthusiasm.  A  county  war-meeting  was  held  in 
Claremont  on  the  afternoon  of  August  2.  The  hall  was  draped 
with  flags,  and  tastefully  decorated  with  evergreen  and  flowers ; 


GUARDING   REBEL   PROPERTY.  19 

and  the  Newport  cornet-band  furnished  appropriate  and  excel 
lent  music.  Henry  Hubbard  of  Charlestown  was  called  to  pre 
side  :  and  addresses  were  made  by  Gov.  A.  S.  Berry ;  Congress 
man  J.  W.  Patterson ;  C.  W.  Nesmith,  United-States  senator 
from  Oregon;  Hon.  A.  H.  Cragin ;  and  P.  Sanborn,  State 
treasurer.  Brief  remarks  were  also  made  by  H.  B.  Titus,  major 
of  the  Ninth  ;  Capt.  T.  A.  Barker  of  the  Second,  afterward 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Fourteenth ;  and  a  few  others. 

Capt.  Barker  told  of  his  experience  in  the  war,  and  some  of 
the  conclusions  which  he  had  reached  in  consequence.  One  was, 
"  that  he  should  never  again  detail  men  from  Company  A  to 
guard  Rebel  property,  —  no,  never!  That  style  of  standing 
guard  over  the  property  of  enemies  was  played  out."  He  doubt 
less  had  in  mind  the  facility  with  which  the  " guard"  appropri 
ated  the  goods  which  caused  their  owners  anxiety,  and  effect 
ually  relieved  them  of  any  further  solicitude  in  that  direction. 

August  7  the  town  of  Claremont  held  a  meeting,  at  which 
it  was  voted  to  pay  a  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  to  each  citizen  vol 
unteer.  August  21  William  H.  Chaffin,  a  graduate  of  the 
Norwich  Military  University,  opened  a  recruiting-office  in  that 
place.  Meetings  were  held  by  the  citizens  of  Claremont  on  the 
evenings  of  August  18  and  19,  at  which  it  was  voted  that  the 
town-pay  a  bounty  of  a  hundred  dollars  to  each  man  enlisting 
after  that  date.  Public  meetings  were  held  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  month,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ;  at  which 
hour  the  places  of  business  were  closed,  and  the  citizens  repaired 
en  masse  to  the  park,  the  place  of  meeting.  Young  and  old 
formed  themselves  into  companies,  elected  officers,  and,  as  home- 
guards,  drilled  with  the  recruits.  At  a  legal  town-meeting,  held 
September  17,  it  was  voted  to  pay  all  who  had  enlisted  since 
August  11  the  sum  of  a  hundred  dollars  each. 

The  men  recruited  by  Messrs.  Clogston  and  Bugbee  rendez 
voused  at  Claremont  for  about  ten  days  previous  to  their  de 
parture  for  the  general  camp  in  Concord.  As  an  instance  of 
promptitude  in  obeying  orders  may  be  mentioned  the  case  of 
Freeman  S.  Stowell,  who  enlisted  for  the  Eleventh  Regiment, 
but,  receiving  orders  at  eleven  A.M.  to  report  at  Claremont  for 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

the  Fourteenth,  started  on  foot,  and  walked  to  Claremont  that 
afternoon,  a  distance  of  twenty-four  miles  from  the  place  of  his 
enlistment.  The  squads  recruited  by  Ransom  Huntoon,  W.  H. 
H.  Cowles,  D.  F.  Pike,  and  D.  C.  Pillsbury,  made  a  rendezvous 
of  Newport  for  three  weeks,  where  the  men  were  well  drilled 
by  Capt.  J.  H.  Cross.  The  drilling  at  Claremont  was  done  by 
S.  Clogston. 

In  the  beginning  Company  I  had  several  members  who  were 
peculiarly  interested  in  the  company,  and  in  its  military  excel 
lence.  This  interest  was  noticeable  throughout  its  history,  and 
has  not  abated,  on  the  part  of  some  certainly,  since  the  muster- 
out.  That  interest  was  evidenced  at  the  veteran  re-union  held 
in  Newport. 

Company  I  was  so  well  drilled  at  the  rendezvous,  that,  when 
it  first  appeared  on  the  parade  in  Concord,  it  at  once  attracted 
attention  as  being  one  of  the  best-disciplined  companies  in  the 
battalion;  and,  in  all  subsequent  battalion  movements,  Company 
I  and  its  captain  were  always  reliable  as  examples ;  and  that 
company  was  involved  in  fewer  blunders,  and  more  seldom 
required  disentanglement,  than  most  others. 

The  non-commissioned  officers  of  I  were  very  competent  and 
reliable  men ;  and  in  this  respect  the  company  ranked  well  up 
with  D,  G,  and  other  companies  which  were  pre-eminent  in  their 
complement  of  subaltern  officers.  Concerning  the  election  of 
company  officers,  there  is  room  for  the  supposition  that  the 
ceremony  of  choosing  the  same  was  not  perfectly  satisfactory ; 
and  by  some  members  of  the  company  it  was  considered  that  no 
election  at  all  was  held  for  captain  and  second  lieutenant,  while 
the  choice  of  first  lieutenant  was  "  a  farce."  At  any  rate,  the 
company,  like  good  soldiers,  quietly  acquiesced  in  the  organiza 
tion  as  finally  perfected.  The  election  referred  to  occurred 
after  the  arrival  of  the  squads  in  Concord. 

The  squads  which  rendezvoused  at  Claremont,  and  the  re 
cruits  of  R.  Huntoon  from  the  Newport  rendezvous,  together 
with  W.  H.  Chaffin  and  Alexander  Gardiner,  arrived  at  Concord 
on  the  18th  of  September,  and  went  into  camp  near  the  Thir 
teenth  Regiment.  During  the  week  before  being  mustered,  while 


CONFISCATING  APPLES.  21 

under  the  command  of  Capt.  Clogston,  the  men  were  called 
out  in  the  wee  small  hours  to  draw  up  the  hardbacks  and  sweet 
ferns  which  generous  nature  had  so  liberally  furnished  as  a 
shade  for  the  lively  flea,  who  inhabited  the  broad  and  sandy 
plain.  These  recruits  were  examined  by  the  surgeon  September 
22,  and  mustered  into  the  United-States  service  on  the  24th. 
The  remainder  of  the  men  from  the  Newport  headquarters  re 
ported  September  22,  being  about  the  last  squad  on  the  ground. 
They  were  mustered  into  service  on  the  26th,  and  the  company 
granted  a  furlough  of  five  daj^s. 

The  arrival  of  the  Newport  boys  in  camp  brought  a  supply 
of  apples.  It  happened  in  this  way.  Just  as  they  came  upon 
the  camp-ground,  an  old  farmer  was  in  camp  peddling  out 
some  three  or  four  bags  of  apples.  A  slight  difficulty  arose  in 
regard  to  a  transaction,  and  the  farmer  was  inclined  to  be  a  lit 
tle  mean  about  it.  This  the  boys  would  not  put  up  with,  and 
began  to  hector  and  tease  him.  He  soon  got  angry,  and  began 
swearing  at  them.  Between  them  one  of  the  bags  got  open,  and 
the  boys  helped  themselves  as  the  apples  rolled  to  the  ground. 
At  this  point  the  farmer  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  best 
to  look  for  another  market,  and  whipped  up  his  horse  to  leave 
camp,  meantime  swearing  roundly  at  the  company.  The  result 
was,  that  the  other  bags  of  apples  got  open  ;  and  the  fast  driving 
over  the  rough  ground  made  it  lively  for  the  boys  to  pick  up 
the  fruit  left  behind  in  the  retreat.  As  he  drove  off  the  ground, 
not  a  few  of  the  apples  could  be  seen  flying  through  the  air 
toward  him  and  his  poor  beast. 

W.  H.  Chaffin,  afterward  captain  of  the  company,  drilled  it 
in  Camp  Cheshire,  and  was  really  in  command  of  the  company 
until  the  commissions  were  issued,  January  1,  1863,  when  he 
was  mustered  as  captain.  A  singular  exception  appears  to  have 
been  made  in  the  time  of  commissioning  the  officers  of  this  com 
pany.  Some  of  the  members  of  Company  I  originally  enlisted 
for  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Regiments.  The  ages  of  the 
men  were,  youngest,  sixteen,  oldest,  sixty-five,  with  the  average 
below  thirty.  Most  of  the  members  of  this  company  were  men. 
with  families,  and  well  off  pecuniarily.  They  were  representa- 


22  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

tive  of  the  best  citizenship  of  the  section  which  sent  them  forth, 
and  they  enlisted  in  a  glow  of  patriotic  devotion  which  never 
grew  cold  until  the  great  work  was  clone.  The  material  fur 
nished  by  Company  I  to  the  Fourteenth  possessed  the  elements 
of  bravery  and  endurance  to  an  eminent  degree. 


COMPANY  C. 

Company  C  may  be  emphatically  called  a  Cheshire-county 
company,  nearly  all  parts  of  the  county  being  represented  in  its 
ranks ;  although  the  greater  number  came  from  Keene  and 
Swanzey,  in  the  central  part.  The  occupations  of  the  men  were 
more  varied  in  number  than  the  towns  from  which  they  were 
drawn.  They  were  mostly  young  married  men,  leaving  families 
behind  them  ;  and  at  least  two  members  of  the  company,  Messrs. 
Combs  and  Mattoon,  had  their  sons  with  them,  all  of  whom 
served  to  the  end  of  the  war,  and  were  mustered  out.  They 
were  a  tough,  hardy  set  of  men,  well  qualified  to  endure  hard 
ship  and  fatigue,  and  calculated  to  render  good  service  where- 
ever  and  whenever  called  upon.  While  they  were  jolly  good 
fellows,  always  ready  for  a  frolic,  or  any  enterprise  that  prom 
ised  a  little  sport,  they  were  always  prompt  to  obey  the  call  of 
duty,  and  never  failed  to  respond  to  any  demand  for  service, 
however  arduous  or  dangerous  it  might  be,  —  danger,  indeed, 
seeming  to  add  a  spice  and  relish  to  whatever  they  undertook. 

Enlistments  began  early  in  August,  at  Keene,  under  Capt. 
Combs,  who  recruited  a  large  number.  The  towns  represented, 
and  the  number  of  men  from  each,  were  as  follows :  Keene, 
twenty-eight ;  Swanzey,  twenty-two ;  Marlborough,  ten  ;  Fitz- 
william,  ten  ;  Troy,  six ;  Gilsum,  three ;  Roxbury,  Richmond, 
Westmoreland,  Winchester,  two  each  ;  Hopkinton  and  Walpole, 
one  each.  Unlike  some  others  in  the  regiment,  this  company 
was  enlisted  wholly  for  the  Fourteenth;  and  there  was  none  of 
the  doubt  and  indecision  in  regard  to  its  destination  which 
excited  the  anxieties  of  some  in  other  companies.  The  company 
rendezvoused  in  Keene,  though  not  in  camp  there,  and  was  well 
drilled  under  Ira  Berry,  jun.,  who  was  a  competent  drill-master; 


READY  FOR  A   LARK.  23 

and  under  his  training  the  men  presented  a  creditable  appear 
ance. 

Company  C  was  exceedingly  fortunate  in  its  drill-masters. 
Capt.  Combs,  who  also  drilled  the  men,  was  an  efficient  officer, 
and  a  man  of  some  military  experience,  having  been  an  officer  in 
a  former  New  Hampshire  regiment.  When  the  Fourteenth  en 
tered  the  service,  he  probably  understood  tactics  as  well  as  any 
officer  who  went  out  at  that  time. 

The  company  remained  in  Keene  until  it  went  into  camp  at 
Concord,  September  17.  The  next  day  the  following  officers 
were  elected :  Captain,  Amos  D.  Combs ;  and  first  lieutenant, 
Ira  Berry,  jun. ;  September  19  the  second  lieutenant  was  elected  ; 
Carroll  D.  Wright,  afterwards  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth,  being 
chosen  for  this  office.  The  officers  of  this  company  were  of 
exceptional  ability,  making  good  records  for  themselves,  and 
reflecting  credit  on  the  State  that  sent  them  forth  to  battle  for 
the  Union.  This  company  was  one  of  the  first  companies  on 
the  grounds  at  Concord,  and,  immediately  after  its  arrival, 
entered  upon  a  course  of  training  in  camp  which  went  far 
towards  fitting  the  men  for  the  active  and  varied  labors  in  which 
they  were  soon  to  engage.  They  were  mustered  into  the  United- 
States  service  September  22. 

This  company  was  the  life  of  the  regiment.  Its  men  were 
always  ready  for  a  frolic,  their  overflowing  spirits  not  only 
keeping  their  own  hearts  light  and  cheerful,  but  bringing  smiles 
to  the  serious  countenances  of  some  of  their  more  sedate  com 
rades,  and  driving  away  many  a  fit  of  the  blues.  Whatever 
promising  scheme  was  on  foot,  Company  C  managed  to  obtain 
its  full  share,  and  was  reckless  of  danger  in  its  pursuit  of  what 
ever  was  uppermost  at  the  time.  The  men  had  many  amusing 
experiences  and  some  narrow  escapes,  the  recollections  of  which 
are  dear  to  the  hearts  of  the  veterans;  but,  with  all  their  love 
of  adventure,  they  were  good  soldiers,  and  did  faithful  service. 
They  were  equal  to  any  for  endurance  of  hardship  and  fatigue, 
and  the  company  contained  some  of  the  best  fighting  material 
in  the  regiment. 

The  company  took  the  palm  for  odd  and  famous  characters. 


24  FOURTEENTH    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

If  there  were  any  tricks  of  foraging  which  some  of  its  members 
did  not  understand,  it  is  certain  that  such  tricks  were  never 
resorted  to  in  the  army.  The  men  early  showed  an  ability  and  a 
disposition  to  take  care  of  themselves.  If  any  innocent  (?)  lark 
was  on  the  tapis,  there  were  members  of  this  company  who  never 
brought  up  the  rear  of  the  procession.  A  feeling  of  comrade 
ship  was  noticeable  in  Company  C,  and  no  men  in  the  regiment 
were  readier  to  assist  a  needy  comrade  than  the  members  of 
this  company.  There  were  several  nicknames  in  the  company, 
which  became  so  familiar  throughout  the  regiment  that  it  can 
never  be  thought  of  without  recalling  them  to  mind ;  "  Old 
Actually"  being  one  of  the  characters  referred  to.  It  is  suffi 
cient  to  say  that  Company  C  was  always  "liable  for  duty." 

COMPANY    F. 

The  three-years'  enlistments  in  the  town  of  Winchester 
formed  the  nucleus  of  Company  F.  The  volunteers  from  that 
town  under  previous  calls  had  been  scattered  through  nearly  all 
the  regiments  which  the  State  had  sent  to  the  front,  and  that 
community  had  no  representative  organization  in  the  Union 
armies.  The  quota  of  Winchester  was  so  large  in  1862,  that  a 
successful  endeavor  was  made  to  organize  a  company ;  and  this 
movement  gave  an  added  impulse  to  recruiting.  Public  meet 
ings  were  held;  the  town  voted  a  generous  bounty;  and  a  de 
gree  of  enthusiasm  was  awakened  which  brought  a  large  number 
of  hesitating  ones  to  a  final  decision,  and  secured  the  best  possi 
ble  material  for  service  in  the  field. 

The  enormous  drain  necessary  to  fill  the  call  for  six  hundred 
thousand  men  was  felt  in  Winchester  and  adjoining  towns,  and 
commensurate  efforts  were  put  forth  to  fill  the  quota.  It  is 
simple  justice  to  state,  that  the  towns  furnishing  the  men  for 
Company  F  contained  no  better  fighting  material  than  they 
contributed  in  these  enlistments,  —  the  men  who  were  enrolled 
in  August,  1862.  A  few  poor  sticks  crept  in,  tempted  by  the 
bounty;  but  most  of  the  volunteers  honored  the  community  in 
which  they  were  born,  and  which  sent  them  forth  in  that  most 


RECRUITING  IN   WINCHESTER.  25 

invulnerable  armor  of  the  soldier,  —  a  self-respecting,  loyal  man 
hood.  They  went,  too,  sustained  by  the  sincere  sympathy  and 
undivided  patriotic  sentiment  of  their  constituencies. 

This  company  had  a  curious  geographical  constitution.  The 
reasons  therefor  must  be  sought  in  the  official  exigencies  of 
those  ambitious  aspirants  who  found  it  necessary  to  effect  such 
combinations  of  squads  as  would  prove  effectual  in  securing  the 
coveted  commissions.  Extremes  met  in  Company  F,  —  the  ex 
treme  ends  of*the  State;  the  Massachusetts  and  Canada  lines 
uniting  in  the  sixth  company  of  the  Fourteenth.  In  Cheshire 
County  the  towns  of  Winchester,  Chesterfield,  and  Richmond 
furnished  respectively  thirty-five,  fifteen,  and  six,  men,  with  four 
from  Swanzey,  and  the  same  number  from  Keene.  In  Coos 
Countv  the  following  towns  furnished  the  complement  of  the 
company :  Milan,  five  ;  Northumberland,  three;  Stark,  one;  Lan 
caster,  one ;  with  one  each  from  several  other  towns.  In  Win 
chester  the  principal  enlisting-officer  was  Dr.  George  W.  Pierce, 
afterward  surgeon  of  the  First  N.  H.  Cavalry,  and  who  took 
so  much  interest  in  the  company,  that  there  was  a  strong  desire 
for  his  acceptance  of  the  captaincy;  but  circumstances  prevented. 
Dr.  Pierce  enlisted  thirty-five  men  from  Winchester  and  the 
members  of  the  company  from  Swanzey,  while  the  Keene  re 
cruits  were  enlisted  in  that  town  and  turned  over.  The  Coos 
members  were  recruited  by  Capt.  Browne. 

The  first  recruiting  in  Winchester  was  on  August  13,  it  hav 
ing  been  announced  previously  that  a -company  was  to  be  raised 
in  Winchester  and  vicinity.  An  effort  was  made  to  induce  one 
of  the  old  militia  officers  to  raise  and  lead  a  company  ;  but,  while 
the  project  fell  through,  there  was  a  good  deal  of  old-fashioned 
bass-drumming,  parading  in  single-file  formation,  and  training 
on  every  open  lot  about  the  village.  A  kind  of  martial  enthusi 
asm  was  thereby  sustained,  which  served  as  a  diversion  from 
the  grimmer  realities  of  soldiering.  On  the  afternoon  of  August 
13  a  spirited  town-meeting  was  held ;  and,  in  addition  to  the 
large  town-bounty  then  voted,  the  earnest,  patriotic  speeches  of 
several  citizens  —  among  them  being  those  of  Hon.  Ira  W. 
Russell,  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins,  and  T.  A.  Ripley  —  gave  a  sudden 


26  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  powerful  impulse  to  enlistments.  The  scene  in  the  old 
town-hall,  when  man  after  man  jumped  upon  the  benches  and 
signified  his  readiness  to  be  one  of  the  town's  quota,  was 
one  of  the  most  thrilling  ever  witnessed  in  that  community. 
Scarcely  a  recruit  in  the  town  enlisted  under  the  nine-months' 
call,  nearly  all  volunteering  under  the  recent  call  for  three  hun 
dred  thousand  three-years'  men. 

At  that  time  it  was  the  prevailing  opinion  that  a  three-years' 
man  would  be  home  again  within  nine  months ;  Jbut  it  was  the 
general  feeling,  that  to  wind  up  the  Rebellion  was  the  duty  of 
all  who  went  into  the  army,  even  if  three  years  were  required 
for  the  consummation.  Winchester  and  Richmond  first  united 
their  quotas  for  the  formation  of  the  company,  and  the  next 
move  was  an  endeavor  to  bring  Hinsdale  into  the  arrangement. 
In  furtherance  of  the  negotiations,  the  Winchester  and  Hinsdale 
contingents  met  at  Ashuelot  Saturday,  August  23,  and  frater 
nized  in  a  season  of  marked  conviviality  ;  speeches  being  made  by 
Messrs.  W.  A.  Fosgate  and  T.  A.  Ripley.  On  Thursday,  August 
28,  the  delegations  met,  and  agreed  on  a  basis  of  organization. 
Hinsdale  was  to  have  the  captain,  first,  second,  fourth,  and  fifth 
sergeants,  and  four  corporals.  Winchester  took  the  two  lieu 
tenants,  one  sergeant,  and  four  corporals. 

On  some  inexplicable  and  baseless  pretext  the  election  at 
Winchester  was  called  for  Sunday,  August  31,  with  the  follow 
ing  result :  T.  A.  Ripley,  first  lieutenant ;  Stephen  Phelps,  second 
lieutenant ;  Henry  F.  Pra.tt,  third  sergeant ;  L.  Warren  Wright, 
George  Norwood,  J.  F.  Hunt,  and  A.  B.  Colburn,  corporals. 
The  terms  of  agreement  between  the  squads  and  the  result  of 
the  election  at  Winchester  were  not  really  satisfactory  to  any 
of  the  parties  in  interest;  Richmond  particularly  demurring  to 
the  small  recognition  which  her  quota  had  received  in  the  dis 
tribution  of  the  offices.  Monday,  September  1,  it  was  announced 
that  Hinsdale  had  receded  from  the  union.  Saturday,  Septem 
ber  6,  fifteen  of  the  Chesterfield  recruits  joined  the  Winchester 
boys,  raising  the  number  secured  to  seventy.  A  company  being 
thus  assured,  orders  were  received  to  fill  the  proposed  organiza 
tion  to  the  maximum.  The  Richmond  and  Chesterfield  recruits 


THE    WOMEN   OF   WINCHESTER.  27 

were  representative  of  the  best  fighting  element  in  the  two 
towns.  September  11  Surgeon  W.  H.  Thayer  examined  fifty- 
three  men  in  the  town-hall,  four  of  whom  were  rejected. 

The  nascent  military  experience  of  the  company  in  Winchester 
was  agreeable,  the  leading  spirits  managing  to  flavor  those 
civilian-soldier  days  with  all  needed  episodic  spice.  The  situa 
tion  was  a  novel  one  to  both  the  enlisted  men  and  the  people  of 
the  town.  The  former  were  not  inclined  to  anticipate  future 
dangers  by  present  forebodings.  With  many  of  them  the  ordi 
nary  duties  of  home-life  were  continued  until  regular  drilling 
was  begun.  About  August  20  the  men  rendezvoused  at  Win 
chester  for  drill,  a  small  hall  over  the  post-office  being  utilized 
as  headquarters ;  while  the  town-hall  was  a  general  resort  for 
drill,  athletic  exercises,  amusements,  etc.,  which  occupied  the 
leisure  and  the  busy  hours.  So  far  as  the  company  was  drilled 
at  all,  it  was  well  drilled  by  W.  A.  Fosgate  and  T.  A.  Ripley ; 
the  former  having  had  some  military  training,  which  gave  him 
an  advantage  over  the  others.  The  company  was  occasionally 
exercised  in  what  were  then  considered  long  marches,  and  in 
sharp  dashes  at  double-quick. 

The  amenities  of  initiatory  soldiering  were  enjoyed  by  Com 
pany  F.  The  ladies  of  Winchester  were  assiduous  and  appre 
ciative  in  their  attentions,  and  in  various  ways  manifested  their 
tender  interest  in  those  whom  they  were  prayerfully  sending 
forth  to  battle  and  death.  On  Saturday,  August  16,  the  ladies 
gave  an  elegant  reception  and  dinner  in  Beacon-Light  Hall. 
Prominent  citizens  of  the  town  were  present,  the  soldiers  occu 
pying  the  post  of  honor.  The  occasion  was  a  memorable  one  in 
the  history  of  the  company.  Appropriate  music  was  rendered ; 
and  speeches  were  made  by  Messrs.  W.  A.  Fosgate,  Marshall 
Kingman,  A.  L.  Jewell,  and  S.  W.  Buffum.  The  most  impres 
sive  feature  of  that  day's  programme  was  the  gift  of  a  copy  of 
the  New  Testament  to  each  of  the  volunteers.  The  presenta 
tion  was  made  by  Miss  Emily  Wheaton,  who,  for  culture  of 
mind,  fineness  of  spirit,  and  beauty  of  character,  was  one  of  the 
noblest  women  Winchester  ever  produced.  Well  did  she  repre 
sent,  in  that  short  speech,  full  of  tenderness,  patriotism,  and 


28  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

piety,  the  royal  power  of  American  womanhood  in  the  desperate 
struggle  for  national  unity.  Her  requiem  hymn  on  the  death 
of  President  Lincoln  was  among  the  excellent  ones  which  that 
sad  occasion  inspired. 

Those  who  hoped  for  commissions  extended  unfailing  "  cour 
tesies"  at  the  headquarters  heretofore  mentioned,  and  the 
extent  of  their  liberality  was  the  measure  of  their  genius  as 
prospective  officers  in  the  minds  of  a  portion  of  the  men.  By 
invitation,  Wednesday,  August  27,  the  Winchester  boys 
marched  to  Richmond :  but,  with  a  prudence  hardly  practicable 
in  the  Valley,  they  ordered  omnibuses  to  follow ;  and  the  foot 
sore  heroes  rode  home.  In  the  beautiful  grove  back  of  the 
schoolhouse  at  the  Four  Corners,  tables  were  spread  and 
bountifully  loaded,  —  not  with  soldier's  fare,  —  and  the  sylvan 
repast  was  heartily  enjoyed.  Speeches  were  made  by  Dr.  S.  P. 
French,  of  the  citizens,  and  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Colburn  for  the  com 
pany.  While  the  men  rendezvoused  in  Winchester,  meals  — 
hardly  rations  — were  taken  at  the  house  of  Ira  Gustine,  on 
Parker  Street.  The  fine  tables  there  spread  are  not  yet  for 
gotten. 

About  the  middle  of  September  the  men  grew  restless  and 
impatient  for  something  more  real  and  important  than  the  mock 
soldiering  indulged  in  for  a  month.  They  were  soon  gratified. 
The  first  supposition  was,  that  the  company  might  become  a 
portion  of  the  Ninth  Regiment;  but  days  changed  to  weeks,  and 
still  no  demand  for  the  Cheshire-county  men.  Definite  infor 
mation  coming,  that  the  company  would  go  into  either  the 
Thirteenth  or  Fourteenth,  orders  were  received  to  repair  to 
Concord ;  and,  on  the  morning  of  September  17,  L.  F.  Buffum 
took  the  company,  in  omnibuses,  to  Fitzwilliam,  where  it 
embarked  on  the  train  for  the  State  capital.  Concord  was 
reached  at  3.30  P.M.  ;  the  line  of  march  was  to  the  State  House, 
thence  to  the  quartermaster's  department,  where  a  blanket, 
plate,  cup,  and  spoon  were  issued  to  each  man ;  and  the  march 
was  resumed  to  the  new  barracks  in  camp.  In  order  to  secure 
the  maximum  number  of  men,  an  arrangement  was  made  with 
a  squad  of  recruits  from  Coos  County,  previously  referred  to, 


EXTREMES  MEET.  29 

and  originally  intended  for  Company  E,  but  held  by  the  re 
cruiting-officer  for  the  most  advantageous  offer.  The  terms  of 
the  transfer  to  Company  F  were  not  approved  by  the  best  men 
of  the  squad. 

September  21  the  company  was  examined  by  the  regimental 
surgeon.  The  next  day  the  election  of  officers  was  held,  a 
captain  and  first  lieutenant  being  chosen.  The  second  lieuten 
ant  was  never  chosen  by  the  company,  although  the  one  finally 
commissioned  stood  second  in  the  ballot  for  captain.  The  com 
pany  was  mustered  into  the  United-States  service  September  23. 
October  3  the  appointments  of  non-commissioned  officers  were 
announced  by  the  captain. 

In  more  senses  than  already  enumerated,  extremes  met  in 
this  company.  The  tallest  man,  H.  H.  Howe,  stood  six  feet 
two  ;  while  the  shortest,  F.  F.  Britton,  was  less  than  five  feet. 
The  oldest  member,  Jesse  Wilson,  was  sixty-three,  and  the 
youngest,  W.  A.  Morey,  but  sixteen.  Considering  the  com 
pany  at  its  average  and  in  its  subsequent  service,  endurance, 
fighting,  and  deaths  on  the  battle-field,  it  was  the  equal  of  any 
in  the  regiment  in  most  respects,  and  would  have  been  in  all, 
had  it  stood  on  equal  vantage  ground  with  the  crack  companies 
of  the  battalion. 

COMPANY    H. 

In  the  early  part  of  August,  1862,  William  E.  Bunten  of 
Dunbarton,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  opened  a  recruit 
ing-office  at  Concord,  with  the  intention  of  organizing  a  com 
pany  for  one  of  the  regiments  then  forming  under  the  call  for 
three  hundred  thousand  men.  He  held  a  series  of  war-meetings 
in  Bow,  Hopkinton,  Canterbury,  Meriden,  Goshen,  and  other 
places,  a  part  of  the  time  accompanied  by  Albert  H.  Sawyer  of 
Weare,  who  was  also  endeavoring  to  form  a  company.  Some 
time  prior  to  this,  Walter  H.  Sargent  of  Webster,  who  had 
been  captain  of  the  Boscawen  Rifle  Rangers,  commenced  to 
recruit  for  the  Ninth  Regiment ;  but,  in  consequence  of  some 
misunderstanding  with  the  town  authorities,  he  cancelled  these 
enlistments,  and  on  the  8th  of  August  commenced  to  recruit 


30  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

again,  enlisting  on  that  day  the  first  member  of  Company  H. 
Joseph  C.  Munsey  of  Chichester,  and  J.  Clark  of  Plymouth, 
were  also  recruiting  about  the  same  time. 

When  the  news  arrived  of  the  disaster  on  the  Peninsula, 
George  F.  Blanchard  of  Hopkinton,  and  Marcus  M.  Holmes  of 
Dunbarton,  then  attending  school  at  New  London,  decided  to 
enlist,  and  for  that  purpose  started  for  Concord  on  foot.  They 
walked  to  Hopkinton,  a  distance  of  nearly  twenty  miles.  Here 
Blanchard,  yielding  to  the  entreaties  of  relatives,  concluded  to 
delay  his  enlistment ;  but  Holmes  went  on  to  Concord  the  next 
day.  He  called  on  Adjutant- Gen.  Colby,  who  advised  him  to  re 
turn  to  New  London  and  remain  until  graduation,  which  would 
take  place  in  two  or  three  weeks,  at  the  same  time  appointing  him 
recruiting-officer.  Blanchard  afterwards  enlisted,  and  became 
a  member  of  the  company,  returning  from  the  war  as  captain 
of  Company  A. 

The  quota  of  New  Hampshire  was  nearly  full  when  the  first 
enlistment  was  made  ;  and  when  the  last  of  the  three-years'  men, 
about  the  1st  of  September,  were  ordered  into  camp  to  form 
the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  it  was  found  that  no  one  of  the 
above-mentioned  recruiting-officers  had  enlisted  enough  to  form 
a  company. 

So,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Bunten,  a  combination  was 
effected,  including  also  a  detachment  of  Pembroke  men,  under 
Snell,  leaving  the  question  of  officers  to  be  decided  afterwards. 
Under  this  arrangement  the  company  was  the  third  to  go  into 
camp,  but,  in  consequence  of  the  dela}^  in  selecting  officers,  was 
the  eighth  to  be  mustered.  The  number  enlisted  by  each  was 
as  follows :  — 

William  E.  Bunten,  seventeen ;  Albert  H.  Sawyer,  fourteen  ; 
Walter  H.  Sargent,  twelve ;  Marcus  M.  Holmes,  ten ;  Joseph  C. 
Munsey,  twelve ;  J.  Clark,  fourteen ;  C.  B.  Haines,  one ;  B.  E. 
Badger,  one;  B.  T.  Pierce,  two  (deserted  same  day).  Total, 
eighty-three. 

Bunten,  Sawyer,  Sargent,  and  Snell  were  all  candidates 
for  the  captaincy ;  but  as  there  could  be  but  one  captain,  and 
three  officers  in  all,  no  agreement  could  be  made :  till  finally, 


ELECTING   OFFICERS.  31 

at  the  suggestion  and  in  the  presence  of  Lieut.-Col.  Barker,  an 
election  was  held  about  the  22d  of  September,  resulting  in  Bun- 
ten  for  captain,  Sawyer  for  first  lieutenant,  and  Sargent  second 
lieutenant.  Dissatisfied  at  this,  Snell  withdrew,  and  joined 
Company  K. 

Twenty  towns  were  represented  in  the  company,  the  number 
from  each  being  as  follows  : — 

Chichester,  fourteen  ;  Dunbarton,  eight ;  Concord,  seven  ; 
Bow,  five ;  Warren,  three ;  Pembroke,  two ;  Walpole,  two ; 
Francestown,  one;  Weare,  one;  Canterbury,  one;  Webster, 
thirteen ;  Hopkinton,  eight ;  Plymouth,  five ;  Campton,  four ; 
Goshen,  three  ;  Sunapee,  two  ;  Hooksett,  one  ;  Waterville,  one  ; 
Groton,  one  ;  Unity,  one. 

They  were  mostly  farmers  and  farmers'  sons,  with  a  few 
mechanics  and  students.  Their  ages  were  as  follows :  Eighteen 
years  and  under,  eighteen  ;  nineteen  and  twenty,  nine  ;  twenty- 
one  to  thirty,  thirty-three ;  thirty-one  to  forty,  fourteen ;  forty 
and  over,  nine.  Total,  eighty-three. 

The  youngest  member  of  the  company  was  David  S.  Corser  of 
Webster,  who  was  born  August  6,  1847.  Alonzo  P.  Saltmarsh 
of  Bow  was  only  a  few  months  older.  Both  served  through 
the  war,  and  returned  as  corporals.  The  }^oungest  non-com 
missioned  officers  were  Marcus  M.  Holmes  and  Arthur  F.  Good 
rich,  each  being  eighteen.  Goodrich  died  in  1863,  and  Holmes 
returned  as  first  lieutenant.  The  oldest  were  Sanborn,  Brad 
bury,  Frazier,  and  Moulton,  each  having  attained  the  age  of 
forty-four;  and  all  returned.  There  were  twelve  pairs  of  brothers. 
Of  these  only  four  pairs  were  permitted  to  return  unbroken. 
Moulton  afterwards  had  a  son  join  the  company  as  a  recruit. 

While  in  camp  at  Concord,  the  company  was  drilled  for  a 
time  by  Warren  Clark,  and  performed  a  good  deal  of  fatigue 
and  guard  duty. 

COMPANY  K. 

The  call  for  troops  in  1862  reached  the  ears  of  men  living  in 
the  beautiful  region  between  tire  White  Mountains  and  Lake 
Winnipiseogee,  and  a  response  was  made  by  an  effort  to  raise  a 


32  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

company  in  the  town  of  Sandwich.  The  first  enlistment  was 
made  July  30;  and  patriotic  pride,  enthusiasm,  and  the  energy 
of  the  recruiting-officers,  O.  H.  Marston  and  W.  M.  Weed,  car 
ried  the  work  steadily  on  until  the  roll  numbered  eighty-six 
names,  including  one  from  Moult6nborough.  A  public  meeting 
was  held,  at  which  the  town  voted  to  give  a  bounty  of  one  hun 
dred  dollars  to  each  enlisted  man ;  and  a  large  number  of  enlist 
ments  were  obtained.  The  formation  of  the  company  called 
out  the  enthusiasm  of  the  townspeople,  and  awakened  new  zeal 
for  the  common  cause.  Much  interest  and  pride  were  felt  in 
raising  a  band  of  men  which  should  fittingly  represent  the  com 
munity  which  sent  it  Torth. 

The  company  did  not  muster  in  any  camp  previous  to  its 
arrival  in  Concord,  but  the  men  did  not  waste  time  in  needless 
delay;  and,  in  two  weeks  from  the  first  enlistment,  they  were 
ready  for  work.  After  the  14th  of  August  they  met  two  or 
three  times  a  week,  and  were  drilled  by  O.  H.  Marston  and 
M.  S.  Webster ;  the  latter  having  the  benefit  of  previous  military 
experience,  as  a  sergeant  in  the  Sixth  Mass.  Militia  for  some 
years.  The  company  was  drilled  faithfully  and  efficiently  until 
its  departure  for  Concord. 

When  the  first  enlistments  were  made,  it  was  supposed  that 
the  company  would  be  assigned  to  the  Twelfth ;  but,  as  that  regi 
ment  filled  up  sooner  than  was  expected,  the  Fourteenth  became 
its  destiny.  Early  in  September  a  meeting  was  held,  which 
resulted  in  the  election  of  the  following  officers :  Calvin  Hoyt, 
captain ;  O.  H.  Marston,  first  lieutenant ;  Moulton  S.  Web 
ster,  second  lieutenant.  This  election  took  place  with  the 
expectation  of  filling  out  the  company  in  Concord  by  single 
recruits,  and  by  so  doing  avoid  a  necessity  of  change  in  officers ; 
but  upon  arriving  in  Concord,  September  19,  it  was  found  im 
practicable.  The  examining  surgeon  rejected  seventeen  men, 
which  so  diminished  their  numbers  as  to  necessitate  a  much 
larger  addition  than  had  been  anticipated. 

In  the  mean  while,  Jason  D.  Snell,  who  had  been  but  a  short 
time  discharged  from  the  regular  army,  had  raised  twenty-three 
men  in  Pembroke,  given  them  thorough  and  successful  drill, 


A    HAPPY  ADJUSTMENT.  33 

and  arrived  with  them  in  Concord.  He  now  offered  to  unite 
his  force  with  that  from  Sandwich  upon  condition  that  he 
should  have  the  first  lieutenancy,  and  one  of  his  men,  J.  M. 
Prentiss,  the  position  of  a  sergeant.  After  a  few  days  of  con 
sultation,  his  offer  was  accepted ;  and  his  squad  of  men  united 
with  those  of  Sandwich,  making  in  all  ninety  recruits.  The 
important  question  now  arose  as  to  which  of  the  previously 
elected  officers  should  give  place  to  Mr.  Snell.  This  was  a  diffi 
cult  and  delicate  matter  to  adjust  with  mutual  satisfaction,  but 
it  was  happily  accomplished ;  and  a  petition,  addressed  to  the 
Governor  and  Council,  was  signed  by  eighty-one  out  of  the 
ninety  enrolled  in  the  company,  asking  that  O.  H.  Marston  be 
commissioned  captain,  Jason  D.  Snell  first  lieutenant,  and 
Moulton  S.  Webster  second  lieutenant.  This  petition  was 
granted,  and  commissions  issued  accordingly.  It  was  the  last 
company  of  the  Fourteenth  which  went  into  camp  at  Concord. 
After  drawing  clothing,  the  men  were  granted  a  furlough  of 
three  days. 

Company  K  boasted  two  men  that  were  six  feet  four  inches 
in  height,  —  Benjamin  Estes  of  Sandwich,  and  Herman  Blood  of 
Pembroke.  Its  shortest  member,  John  Atwood  of  Sandwich, 
was  five  feet  five.  Though  the  ages  of  its  men  ranged  from 
seventeen  to  forty,  it  was  more  uniform  in  this  respect  than 
many  other  companies,  a  large  majority  in  its  ranks  being  under 
twenty-five.  This  uniformity  was  not  confined  to  age,  but 
extended  to  occupation  also.  It  might  well  have  been  said  of 
them,  as  of  those  earlier  heroes  who  fought  so  bravely  at  Con 
cord  in  the  nation's  first  great  struggle  for  freedom,  — 

''There  the  embattled  farmers  stood." 

With  the  exception  of  a  few  mechanics,  Company  K  was 
composed  of  those  who  follow  the  plough.  Situated  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  Commonwealth,  the  peaceful  farming  community 
which  sent  forth  these  sturdy  young  men  to  the  aid  of  their 
country  was  well  fitted  to  produce  those  capable  of  bearing  the 
privation,  fatigue,  and  danger  of  soldier-life.  Such  men,  born 
and  bred  on  the  farms  of  New  England,  and  inured  to  toil  which 


34  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

calls  forth  and  develops  powers  of  strength  and  endurance,  were 
of  great  value  in  the  Rebellion,  and  carried  with  them  to  the 
front  a  fixedness  of  purpose  as  unchangeable  and  resistless  as 
their  own  granite  rocks.  The  men  of  Company  K,  sober, 
steady,  little  given  to  boisterousness  and  insubordination,  were 
not  wanting  in  the  more  conspicuous  traits  of  unflinching 
bravery,  and  loyal  devotion  to  country. 

COMPANY   B. 

Of  all  the  industries  represented  in  the  Fourteenth,  the  lum 
bering  interest  was  as  conspicuous  as  any,  aside  from  the  agri 
cultural.  The  men  from  Coos  County  in  this  regiment  were 
largely  engaged  in  the  different  branches  of  lumbering  through 
out  the  northern  section  of  New  Hampshire,  and  most  of  them 
constituted  Company  E.  No  company  in  the  Fourteenth  could 
boast  of  such  magnificent  physiques  as  those  of  Company  E. 
It  contained  a  larger  proportion  of  tall  men  than  any  other 
company,  and  had  fewer  short  men.  Many  of  its  members  were 
of  massive  proportions,  and  would  have  delighted  the  king  of 
Prussia.  From  the  above  facts  it  was  anticipated,  when  the 
regiment  was  organized,  that  the  men  of  Company  E  would  en 
tirely  surpass  those  from  other  sections  in  their  powers  of  physi 
cal  endurance.  The  members  of  Company  E  were  enlisted  from 
the  towns  of  Lancaster,  Dummer,  Northumberland,  Stark, 
Milan,  Gorham,  Berlin,  Stratford,  Daltori,  and  Whitefield.  The 
recruiting  was  done  as  follows:  Dyke  Sessions  enlisted  thirty 
men  at  Dummer;  William  Cobleigh,  twenty  men  at  Northum 
berland;  Edmund  Brown,  fifty  men  at  Lancaster;  John  A. 
Harriman,  seventeen  men  at  Dalton.  Probably  the  first  enlist 
ment  in  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  made  in  Company  E,  the 
first  recruit  being  enrolled  about  July  4.  Two  members  of  the 
company  enlisted  for  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  but  concluded 
to  wait  and  go  with  others  from  that  section  in  the  Fourteenth. 

The  company  rendezvous  was  at  Lancaster,  where  the  men 
were  drilled  by  Sergt.  F.  M.  Rhodes,  previously  of  the  Second 
N.  H.,  and  who  was  afterward  chosen  captain.  At  Lancaster, 


FIRST  IN  CAMP.  35 

August  31,  the  members  of  the  company  held  an  election  of 
officers,  with  the  result  which  appears  in  the  roster.  Accord 
ing  to  the  information  furnished,  Company  E  was  the  first  of 
the  companies  of  the  Fourteenth  to  go  into  camp  at  Concord, 
preceding  most  of  the  others  by  two  weeks,  arriving  there 
September  2.  The  company  was  mustered  into  the  United- 
States  service,  September  23. 

COMPANY    G. 

Company  G  was  formed  by  the  union  of  four  squads  of  re 
cruits,  enlisted  by  nine  different  recruiting-officers,  chiefly  in 
the  towns  of  Jaffrey,  Keene,  Dublin,  and  Stoddard.  All  of  the 
ninety-four  men  composing  the  original  company  were  residents 
of  Cheshire  County.  C.  Fred.  Webster  brought  forty-eight 
men,  thirty-six  of  whom  he  enlisted  at  Jaffrey,  and  twelve  who 
were  enlisted  at  Dublin  by  Henry  C.  Piper.  Solon  A.  Carter 
recruited  twenty-eight  men  at  Keene ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  L. 
Gerould  brought  twelve  from  Stoddard  (one  of  whom  was 
rejected  by  the  surgeon),  ten  of  whom  he  recruited,  and  two 
being  enlistments  of  Silas  Dinsmore.  Three  of  the  remaining 
seven  were  enlisted  by  Frank  T.  Barker  of  Westmoreland, 
two  by  Joel  Bullard  of  Alstead,  and  one  each  by  Artemas  M. 
Adams  of  Walpole,  and  George  R.  Dinsmoor  of  Keene. 

Of  the  ninety-seven  officers  and  men,  thirty-six  were  residents 
of  Jaffrey,  thirty  of  Keene,  thirteen  of  Dublin,  eleven  of  Stod 
dard,  two  of  Alstead,  and  one  each  from  Rindge,  Winchester, 
Surry,  Westmoreland,  and  Nelson.  A  number  of  men  enlisted 
by  C.  Fred.  Webster  were  turned  over  to  an  officer  of  the  Tenth 
Regiment :  the  remainder  of  the  company  was  recruited  for  the 
Fourteenth.  Twenty-one  recruits  afterward  joined  the  com 
pany,  six  of  whom  were  drafted  men  or  substitutes:  four  of  the 
six  deserted  the  evening  of  the  day  of  their  arrival  in  camp,  and 
the  other  two  in  less  than  four  months.  No  volunteer  in  the 
company  ever  deserted. 

Of  the  volunteer  recruits,  eleven  were  from  Keene,  two  from 
Winchester,  and  one  each  from  Peterborough  and  Jaffrey. 


36  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Omitting  the  six  substitutes,  all  of  whom  were  deserters,  one 
hundred  and  twelve  men  may  be  properly  considered  as  the 
actual  membership  of  Company  G.  Forty-six  of  this  number 
were  twenty-one  years  of  age  or  under  at  their  enlistment,  and 
seventeen  were  over  thirty-five  years:  the  average  age  of  the 
company  at  enlistment  was  twenty-six  years  and  six  months. 

The  first  enlistments  of  the  original  company  were  made 
August  9,  1862 ;  and  all  the  company  but  two  were  enlisted 
between  that  date  and  August  31,  1862:  one  was  recruited 
September  4,  1862,  and  one  September  23,  1862. 

The  occupations  of  the  men,  previous  to  enlistment,  were 
reported  in  their  enlistment  papers  as  follows:  farmers,  forty- 
three;  mechanics,  sixteen ;  laborers,  nine;  butchers,  five;  clerks, 
four;  painters,  three;  two  each  of  merchants,  shoemakers,  and 
coopers;  and  one  each  of  the  following:  gas-superintendent, 
clergyman,  lawyer,  student,  cigar-maker,  dyer,  brickmaker,  pail- 
turner,  baker,  confectioner,  and  brakeman. 

The  squad  of  recruits  enlisted  at  Jaffrey  began  their  drilling 
about  the  15th  of  August  at  East  Jaffrey,  and  continued  during 
the  month.  On  the  9th  of  September  they  were  joined  by  the 
squad  from  Dublin,  and  went  into  camp  in  tents  on  the  com 
mon  at  East  Jaffrey ;  C.  Fred.  Webster,  F.  L.  Tolman,  after 
wards  major,  and  Col.  James  L.  Bolster,  acting  as  drill-mas 
ters.  A  drummer  and  fifer,  who  had  rendered  noted  service  in 
the  days  of  the  old  militia,  furnished  the  music ;  and  the  facing 
and  dressing,  marching  and  countermarching,  which  were  daily 
gone  through  with,  are  said  to  have  been  entertaining  to  the 
spectators,  instructive  to  the  recruits,  and  astonishing  to  the 
children. 

On  the  llth  of  September  the  united  squads  came  to  Keene 
in  teams,  having  been  ordered  into  camp  at  that  place  by  the 
adjutant-general  of  the  State.  Bringing  their  tents  with  them, 
they  immediately  went  into  camp  on  the  "Elliot  lot,"  near  the 
Fair  Ground,  where  they  remained  until  their  departure  for 
Concord.  The  Keene  squad  marched  up  to  their  camp  a  few 
times;  and  the  two  squads  were  drilled  there  together,  by 
James  H. 'Elliot  and  others.  The  Keene  squad  was  also  drilled 


SURG.  W.  H.THAYER. 


ASST.  SURG.  M.  PERKINS. 


ADJT.  L.  W.  WRIGHT. 


ASST.  SURG.  F.  C.  WEEKS. 


Q.  M.,  WM.  A.  HEARD. 


CHAPLAIN  E.  T.  HOWE. 

STAFF  OFFICERS. 


LEAVING  HOME.  37 

once  or  twice  in  the  facings  and  step  in  Gymnasium  Hall,  by 
Col.  William  Dinsmoor.  The  time  was  so  short  between  the 
enlistment  of  most  of  the  Keene  men  and  their  departure  for 
Concord,  that  they  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  had  any  drill. 

At  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  September  18,  1862,  the 
two  squads,  numbering  about  eighty-five  men,  started  from  Cen 
tral  Square  in  single,  double,  and  four  horse  teams  for  Con 
cord,  via  Hillsborough  Bridge.  A  large  concourse  of  relatives, 
friends,  and  citizens  had  gathered  to  witness  their  departure ; 
whose  kind  words  and  good  wishes  relieved  in  a  measure  the 
sadness  of  what  was,  to  many,  their  first  parting  from  home  and 
friends.  Hillsborough  Bridge  was  reached  at  six  o'clock  P.M.  ; 
the  men  being  quartered  at  Greenleaf's  Hotel,  sleeping  in  the 
hall.  The  evening  was  devoted  to  singing  and  story-telling, 
and  the  height  of  all  the  men  was  taken.  The  Stoddard  squad 
of  twelve  had  arrived  a  few  hours  before,  and  occupied  tents 
that  night,  pitched  in  a  field  near  the  hotel. 

This  squad  was  recruited  chiefly  by  Rev.  Samuel  L.  Gerould, 
who  first  enlisted  himself,  and  then  said  "  Come."  On  the 
18th  of  September  they  assembled  at  the  village  hotel,  where 
teams  were  in  waiting  to  carry  them  to  Hillsborough  Bridge. 
There  were  also  gathered  the  wives,  fathers,  mothers,  children, 
and  friends  of  the  enlisted  men.  It  was  no  common  sight,  even 
in  those  days,  for  a  clergyman  to  leave  his  pulpit  and  enter  the 
ranks.  After  the  men  were  loaded  into  the  teams,  Mr.  Gerould 
made  a  few  remarks,  saying  they  were  going  forth  at  the  call  of 
duty,  not  knowing  who  would  return,  and  inviting  the  audience 
of  two  hundred  or  more  to  join  him  in  prayer  for  those  who 
were  going  out  and  for  those  left  behind.  There  were  few  dry 
eyes  in  the  assembly  as  the  teams  moved  away. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  compan}^  formed  in  front  of 
the  hotel  at  eight  o'clock,  and  marched  to  the  depot ;  the  streets 
being  lined  with  citizens  of  the  town,  who  exhibited  their  good 
wishes  by  presenting  many  beautiful  bouquets.  The  train  left 
the  depot  amid  the  cheers  of  those  assembled,  arriving  at  Con 
cord  at  10.30  A.M.  From  the  depot  the  company  marched  to 
the  State-House  yard,  when  a  short  rest  was  taken,  and  from 


38  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

there  to  the  quartermaster's  storehouse,  where  there  were  issued 
to  each  man  a  woollen  blanket,  knife,  fork,  spoon,  tin  cup,  and 
plate.  The  company  then  marched  to  the  camp-ground,  arriv 
ing  there  about  half-past  eleven,  and  were  assigned  quarters  in 
barracks  No.  9.  For  the  first  two  days  in  camp  the  men  were 
most  of  the  time  on  their  knees,  cutting  brush  and  stubble 
about  their  barracks  and  company  street. 

The  captain  having  made  a  detail  of  a  sergeant  and  four  men 
to  demolish  a  board  fence  near  the  camp  of  the  Thirteenth 
Regiment  to  procure  boards  to  build  a  cook-house,  they  started 
with  axes  to  do  their  work,  which  was  soon  completed.  As 
they  were  about  to  gather  up  their  plunder,  'a  guard  of  the 
Thirteenth  appeared,  arrested  the  party,  and  took  them  to  the 
tent  of  Col.  Stevens,  who  had  ordered  the  arrest.  "  Well,  boys, 
you've  got  under  arrest  pretty  early  in  your  military  career, 
haven't  you?"  After  an  explanation  had  been  made,  they 
were  permitted  to  depart  with  their  lumber,  but  told  not  to 
come  again. 

The  amount  of  baggage  that  most  men  brought  to  Concord, 
which  in  their  innocence  and  ignorance  they  supposed  was 
somehow  to  be  transported  for  them  during  their  term  of  ser 
vice,  was  something  alarming.  One  man,  who  had  followed 
the  sea,  brought  his  sailor's  chest,  and  was  often  jokingly 
asked,  what  kind  of  a  knapsack  he  was  going  to  have  to  carry 
it  in.  He  had  always  carried  it  at  sea,  and  had  an  abiding 
faith  that  some  way  would  be  provided  in  the  army. 

On  Monday,  the  22d  of  September,  the  company  were  exam 
ined  by  Surgeon  Thayer,  one  man  only  being  rejected.  The 
same  afternoon  all  who  could  not  show  a  good  scar  were  vac 
cinated.  Few  who  underwent  the  operation  have  ever  had  any 
difficulty  since  in  convincing  those  who  cared  to  examine,  that 
they  had  been  vaccinated  ;  and  if  "  the  larger  the  scar  the  less 
liable  to  contract  the  disease  "  is  a  safe  medical  maxim,  there 
was  some  consolation  for  the  poor  fellows  who  carried  a  sore 
arm  for  months  in  the  thought  that  they  had  absolute  immunity 
from  small-pox. 

On  the  23d  the  company  was  mustered  into  the  United-States 


AN  IMPASSIONED  SPEECH.  39 

service ;  and  the  next  day  the  men  drew  a  part  of  their  uniform, 
and  were  granted  a  furlough  of  one  week.  Five  men  of  each 
company  remained  in  camp  to  look  after  affairs  in  the  absence 
of  the  regiment.  The  only  incident  of  the  week  was  the  rumor 
that  the  Twelfth  Regiment  —  who  would  not  be  comforted 
because  they  could  not  have  Tom  Whipple  for  their  colonel  - 
were  coming  over  to  burn  our  barracks  the  night  before  their 
departure  from  the  State.  Major  Duncan,  having  heard  the 
rumor  in  the  city,  came  to  camp,  and  ordered  a  guard  placed 
about  the  barracks  and  a  careful  watch  kept  all  night.  No 
trouble  occurred,  however ;  the  Twelfth  contenting  themselves 
with  building  huge  bonfires  in  their  own  company  streets,  and 
shouting  without  a  moment's  cessation  during  the  entire  night, 
"  Whipple  !  "  "  Whipple  !  "  "  We  want  Whipple." 

No  election  of  company  officers  was  held ;  it  being  generally 
understood  who  they  were  to  be,  and  the  arrangement  being 
satisfactory  to  the  men.  The  non-commissioned  officers  were 
elected  by  the  company  on  the  2d  of  October,  though  not  with 
the  same  feeling  or  results  that  were  reported  to  have  existed 
in  another  company,  where  every  enlisted  man  but  one  was 
said  to  have  been  promised  a  sergeant's  warrant.  The  lone 
private,  on  being  asked  how  it  happened  that  he  was  not 
expecting  any  office,  innocently  replied  that  he  "  forgot  to  ask 
for  any  thing  when  he  enlisted." 

Few  can  have  forgotten  the  afternoon  spent  at  the  State 
House  in  the  old  House  of  Representatives,  when  our  allotment 
of  pay  was  made.  Many  have  often  recalled  "  Uncle  "  Peter 
Sanborn's  impassioned  speech  on  the  terrible  havoc  made  by  the 
"  army  worm,"  and  it  would  have  been  well  for  the  regiment 
if  his  good  advice  had  been  heeded.  Haversacks,  canteens,  and 
rubber  blankets  were  issued  to  the  company  October  10. 

At  the  date  of  enlistment  the  following  bounties  were  paid, 
other  companies  receiving  the  same  except  the  amount  of  town 
bounty,  which  varied  in  the  different  towns:  United-States 
bounty,  one  hundred  dollars,  —  twenty-five  dollars  was  paid  at 
enlistment,  and  seventy-five  on  muster  out.  State  bounty,  fifty 
dollars.  In  addition  to  the  above,  nearly  every  town  offered  a 


40  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

bounty.  In  Keene  the  town  bounty  was  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  to  which  was  added  a  "  citizens'  bounty  "  of  fifty  dol 
lars,  making  the  total  bounty  at  time  of  enlistment  in  Keene 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars. 


COL.  ROBERT  WILSON. 

Robert  Wilson,  first  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  New 
Hampshire  Volunteers,  son  of  James  Wilson  and  Elizabeth 
(Little)  Wilson,  was  born  in  Peterborough,  N.H.,  September 
24,  1811,  and  lived  at  Peterborough  till  1815,  when  (with  his 
parents)  he  removed  to  Keene.  The  grandfather  of  Col.  Wilson, 
Major  Robert  Wilson,  served  with  distinction  during  the  Revo 
lutionary  war.  Col.  Wilson  was  graduated  at  Amherst  College, 
August  22, 1832.  He  at  once  commenced  the  study  of  law  with 
his  father,  a  noted  lawyer  of  that  time,  and  remained  in  his  office 
about  two  years,  when,  being  appointed  United-States  surveyor, 
he  went  West,  and  remained  some  time  surveying  government 
lands.  In  1835  he  was  appointed,  by  Gov.  William  Badger, 
inspector  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  N.  H.  Militia,  but,  being  at  that 
time  in  the  West,  did  not  accept  the  position ;  soon,  however, 
returning  home,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Badger  lieutenant- 
colonel  Twentieth  Regiment,  N.  H.  Militia ;  and  on  September 
4,  1837,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Hill  colonel  of  the  same 
regiment.  August  3,  1838,  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Hill 
division  inspector  of  third  division,  N.  H.  Militia.  The  25th  of 
August,  1848,  he  was  commissioned  captain  of  the  old  Keene 
Light  Infantry,  in  which  company  he  had  always  taken  great 
interest.  For  several  years  he  was  chief  engineer  of  the  Keene 
Fire-Department.  On  the  24th  of  September,  1861,  he  was  mar 
ried  to  Mrs.  Rosabel  H.  Burt.  During  the  fall  of  1862,  at  the 
special  request  of  the  governor  of  the  State,  he  commenced  the 
formation  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Volun 
teers,  and  on  September  19,  1862,  was  commissioned  its  colonel. 
April  20, 1864,  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  district 


LIEUT.-COL.   BARKER.  41 

of  Carrollton,  La.  On  the  7th  of  June,  1864,  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  the  second  brigade,  second  division,  Nineteenth 
Army  Corps,  which  position  he  held  till  the  brigade  was  ordered 
to  Algiers,  La.,  for  transportation  North.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service  on  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability, 
September  6,  1864.  When  Col.  Wilson  retired  from  the  service, 
Gen.  Birge  wrote  a  complimentary  letter  concerning  him  to  the 
governor  of  New  Hampshire. 

From  the  time  of  his  discharge  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  Keene,  April,  1870,  he  was  much  interested,  in  spite  of  his 
declining  health,  in  the  affairs  of  his  town,  being  foremost  in 
the  bringing  of  water  into  Keene  from  Goose  Pond.  In  1869, 
the  year  prior  to  his  death,  he  represented  Keene  in  the  State 
legislature.  He  was  a  man  of  massive  build,  and  in  his  youth 
was  noted  for  great  strength,  stories  about  which  have  often 
appeared  in  the  New-Hampshire  papers. 

He  left  a  widow  but  no  children. 


LIEUT.-COL.  T.  A.  BARKER. 

Tileston  A.  Barker  was  born  in  Westmoreland,  N.H.,  April 
18,  1807.  Benjamin  and  Abigail,  his  father  and  mother,  lived 
upon  a  farm,  and  raised  a  family  of  eleven  children ;  and,  not 
being  blessed  with  a  competence,  Col.  Barker  was  compelled 
at  an  early  age  to  push  out  and  do  for  himself.  With  a  limited 
common-school  education,  he  located  in  his  native  town,  and  com 
menced  manufacturing  boots  and  shoes.  While  engaged  in  this 
pursuit  he  married  Semira  Albee  of  Chesterfield,  N.H.,  who  bore 
him  three  sons,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  —  Col.  Fred  A. 
Barker  of  Keene,  N.H.,  and  Capt.  Frank  T.  Barker  of  Bradford, 
Penn. :  the  youngest  died  in  infancy.  His  widow  resides  at  the 
old  homestead.  After  following  the  pursuit  of  his  adopted 
trade  for  many  years,  he  relinquished  it  to  engage  in  the  mer 
cantile  trade  in  the  same  town,  and,  while  thus  occupied,  was 
appointed  mail-agent  from  Boston  to  Burlington,  and  held  the 
office  for  eight  years,  under  the  administrations  of  Franklin 
Pierce  and  James  Buchanan.  He  was  active  and  energetic  in 


42  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

town  affairs,  and  was  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the 
county  and  State.  Of  a  genial  disposition  and  pleasing  address, 
he  won  hosts  of  friends,  but  was  not  without  political  enemies ; 
for  in  business  matters  his  honesty  and  integrity  were  never 
questioned.  He  was  for  eleven  years  doorkeeper  of  the  House 
of  Representatives ;  for  five  years  represented  his  town  in  the 
legislature;  was  elected  State  senator  in  1872,  and  re-elected 
in  1873.  Previous  to  these  dates  be  served  on  the  staff  of  Gov. 
Hubbard.  From  his  majority  upwards  he  was  a  great  lover  of 
military  affairs,  and  the  old  State  militia  found  in  him  an  enthu 
siastic  supporter.  The  fife  and  drum  were  his  favorite  band- 
instruments,  and  "Yankee  Doodle"  his  favorite  tune.  For 
many  years  he  commanded  "  Westmoreland  Light  Infantry," 
better  known,  perhaps,  as  "  Old  West  Light." 

But  the  old  militia  laws  were  repealed,  and  New  Hampshire 
left  without  a  military  organization.  While  in  this  deplorable 
condition  the  country  was  called  "  to  arms ; "  and  Col.  Barker 
colored  his  gray  locks  black,  and  denying  his  age,  which  was 
fifty-four,  offered  his  services  to  the  State,  and,  with  a  company 
he  had  recruited,  was  commissioned  captain,  and  mustered  into 
the  three-months'  service.  Later  on  himself  and  company  re- 
enlisted,  and  were  mustered  into  the  Second  Regiment,  N.  H. 
Vols.,  Co.  A.  While  in  the  fighting  Second  he  was  engaged  in 
the  battles  of  Bull  Run,  Malvern  Hill,  the  Seven-days'  fight, 
before  Richmond,  and  Williamsburg.  During  this  service  he 
was  appointed  major  of  the  Sixth  N.  H.  Vols.,  and  would  have 
accepted  but  for  Major-Gen.  Hooker,  who  persuaded  him  to 
remain  with  his  old  regiment.  Still  later,  when  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment,  New  Hampshire  Vols.,  was  being  organized,  he  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel,  and  in  that  capacity  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  to  his  home,  somewhat 
broken  down  in  health,  and  quietly  enjoyed  his  remaining 
years.  Blessed  with  a  rugged  constitution,  he  knew  but  little 
of  sickness;  but  it  came  at  last,  and  brought  an  incurable 
disease :  when  apprised  of  its  nature,  he  said  to  those  around 
him,  "I  would  like  to  live  a  little  longer;  but  I  have  lived  to 
a  good  old  age,  and  always  enjoyed  myself.  I  don't  complain  ; 


MAJOR   S.    A.   DUNCAN.  43 

but,  when  the  time  comes,  I  pray  God  I  may  fall  asleep."  And 
so  it  was  :  in  the  city  of  Keene,  at  his  son's  residence,  on  the 
morning  of  December  7,  1879,  Col.  Tileston  A.  Barker  closed 
his  eyes  in  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking.  Col.  Barker  was 
buried  in  Westmoreland  with  Masonic  honors,  he  being  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Knights  Templars. 


MAJOR   S.  A.  DUNCAN. 

Samuel  Augustus  Duncan  was  born  at  Plainfield,  N.H.,  June 
19,  1836.  He  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1858, 
with  the  highest  honors.  In  September,  1862,  he  was  commis 
sioned  major  of  the  Fourteenth,  holding  that  position  through 
the  summer  of  '63,  when  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  provost 
duty  at  Washington.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he 
became  colonel  of  the  Fourth  Regiment  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry. 
In  this  capacity  he  was  a  remarkably  brilliant  commander, 
meeting  with  great  success,  and  winning  deserved  and  lasting 
fame.  Col.  Duncan  and  his  colored  troops  were  highly  praised 
by  Gen.  Butler  in  his  General  Orders  of  October,  1864.  In  the 
examination  for  officers  for  the  colored  troops  before  the  Mili 
tary  Board  in  July,  1863,  Col.  (then  major)  Duncan  passed  for 
colonel  in  Class  1,  ranking  first  out  of  about  two  hundred 
examinations.  He  successively  occupied  the  positions  of  major, 
colonel,  brigadier-general,  and  major-general.  Major  Duncan 
was  an  ornament  to  the  Fourteenth,  and  fairly  representative 
of  the  best  material  it  contained.  The  colored  regiment,  of 
which  he  became  colonel,  rendered  gallant  service  under  his 
leadership,  and  was  deservedly  praised  for  its  efficiency.  One 
occasion  on  which  they  showed  great  bravery,  was  at  the  attack 
on  Battery  Harrison,  September  29,  1864,  in  which  Col.  Duncan 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  ankle,  and  obliged  to  retire  from 
field-service  for  several  months  in  consequence  of  his  injuries. 
He  rejoined  his  command  in  North  Carolina,  taking  part  in  the 
expedition  against  Wilmington,  and  subsequently  joined  Sher 
man  in  his  movements  against  Raleigh  and  Gen.  Johnston.  He 
had  local  commands  in  North  Carolina  afterwards,  and  in  the 


44  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

fall  and  winter  commanded  the  line  of  forts  surrounding  Wash 
ington,  and  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  Potomac.  After  the 
close  of  the  war  he  was  for  a  time  a  special  agent  in  the  war 
department,  and  for  some  years  after  that  one  of  the  principal 
examiners  in  the  United-States  Pension  Office. 


On  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  September,  the  last  company 
and  squad  had  arrived.  It  was  a  good-natured,  chaotic  mass  of 
volunteers,  retaining  sufficient  independence  in  some  of  its 
squads,  to  declare  that  they  would  not  go  into  certain  com 
panies,  or  even  in  that  regiment,  unless  they  were  guaranteed 
their  "  rights."  The  men  were  nominally  still  in  charge  of  the 
recruiting-officers,  and  not  a  subsequent  officer  was  then  entitled 
to  command  not  having  been  commissioned  or  mustered. 
Major  Samuel  A.  Duncan  was  the  first  field-officer  qualified  to 
assume  general  command ;  and  he  appeared,  and  began  the  work 
of  consolidation  and  discipline.  There  ensued  a  kind  of  anom 
alous,  tentative  period  before  the  company  officers  were  clad  in 
their  authority.  When  that  was  accomplished,  a  great  many 
members  of  the  regiment  saw  a  great  many  things  in  a  differ 
ent  light  from  that  of  a  few  weeks  or  even  days  before.  The 
squad  barters  having  been  concluded,  and  the  ranks  of  the  dif 
ferent  companies  being  filled  to  the  number  required,  the  mus 
tering  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  was  effected  by 
Capt.  Holmes  of  the  regular  army  between  the  22d  and  24th 
of  September,  although  some  scattering  recruits  were  mustered 
as  late  as  October  14.  At  the  time  of  muster  the  men  received 
trousers  and  blouses,  so  that  the  citizen  became  visibly  trans 
formed  to  the  soldier ;  and  the  attire  of  civil  life  was  laid  aside 
by  nearly  all  for  three  years,  and  by  a  large  number  forever. 
Previous  to  muster  the  men  were  given  a  taste  of  camp-life  in 
the  line  of  police-duty,  and  a  good  deal  of  awkward  squad-drill 
ing  was  indulged  in. 

September  24  a  furlough  of  one  week  was  announced,  and  a 
large  proportion  of  the  members  returned  to  their  homes  for  the 


REGIMENTAL  PROPHETS.  45 

final  visit  and  adieu.  When,  at  the  end  of  the  week,  the 
barracks  were  again  filled,  the  mess-gatherings  were  not  so 
jovial.  The  serious  business  of  war  loomed  up  before  us  as  an 
imminent  and  dread  reality.  It  was  near  enough  to  engender 
more  of  thoughtfulness  than  characterized  the  first  merry  holi 
day  assembling  of  the  battalion.  Then  it  was  that  the  imagina 
tive  prophets  launched  the  regiment  on  the  limitless  expanse  of 
speculation.  Our  destination,  when  we  should  see  the  first 
encounter,  how  many  would  be  killed,  whether  or  riot  we  should 
get  down  South  before  the  Rebellion  was  put  down,  the  military 
qualities  of  McClellan,  the  probable  freeing  of  the  slaves,  the 
comparative  merits  of  certain  officers  in  the  regiment, — these 
were  a  few  of  the  questions  mooted  and  irrevocably  settled  in 
advance  by  the  knowing  ones.  Most  of  the  men  were  much 
better  posted  in  the  science  and  probabilities  of  war  than  they 
pretended  to  be  two  years  later. 

October  5  the  Fourteenth  witnessed  the  presentation  of  the 
colors  to  the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  which  departed  the  next 
day  for  the  seat  of  war ;  the  Twelfth  having  gone  more  than  a 
week  previously.  Monday,  October  6,  was  a  memorable  day  in 
the  history  of  the  Fourteenth.  It  was  the  occasion  of  the  first 
battalion  drill  and  dress-parade.  Col.  Robert  Wilson  appeared 
for  the  first  time  to  assume  command ;  and  Lieut.-Col.  T.  A. 
Barker  was  also  in  the  field,  aiding  the  green  officers  by  his 
experience.  The  men  were  serene  in  their  ignorance  of  tactics; 
but  ambitious  officers  of  the  line,  who  had  been  cramming 
Casey  for  a  fortnight,  were  in  a  vertebral  cold-shiver  tempera 
ture.  They  were  very  familiar  with  Casey, — in  a  book  ;  but  it 
did  not  take  much  time  to  impress  them  with  the  difference 
between  tactics  on  paper  and  tactics  on  the  drill-ground.  There 
is  something  magical  in  the  illusiveness  of  tactics  when  a  fresh 
pair  of  shoulder-straps  attempts  to  pin  them  down  to  any  given 
manoeuvre.  That  the  men  got  into  a  snarl,  a  tangle,  a  double 
and  twisted,  inextricable  tactical  knot,  is  tame  delineation. 
That  drill  caused  a  good  deal  of  serious  reflection,  while  it  was 
manifest  that  the  Fourteenth  contained  some  of  as  good  mate 
rial  for  command  as  any  battalion  could  desire. 


46  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  dress-parade  was  a  curiosity.  The  regiment  was  with 
out  arms,  and  could  not  present  a  very  threatening  or  even 
imposing  appearance.  The  colonel,  when  the  parade  was 
formed,  could  not  exercise  his  men  in  the  manual.  It  may  be 
questioned  whether  the  possession  of  muskets  that  day  would 
have  inured  to  the  credit  of  the  organization,  as  the  order, 
"  Support  arms !  "  might  have  brought  a  right-shoulder  shift 
from  the  right  wing,  and  a  reverse  arms  from  the  left.  In  all 
this  the  Fourteenth  was  not  different  from  other  green  regi 
ments.  All  hands  were  glad  when  the  parade  was  ended.  The 
next  attempt  was  a  marked  improvement;  and  both  officers  and 
men  rapidly  developed  that  facility  in  formation  and  evolution 
which,  with  less  intelligent  troops,  is  only  acquired  by  a  much 
severer  discipline  and  more  protracted  exercise.  It  is  to  be 
observed,  however,  that  in  no  case  can  high  excellence  in 
evolution  or  manual  be  attained  in  a  brief  space  of  time. 


ON   GUARD. 

The  initiatory  rite  by  which  the  citizen  was  practically  trans 
formed  to  the  soldier  was  the  detail  for  guard-duty.  We 
refer  to  camp-guard  primarily,  for  here  it  was  that  the  fresh- 
dubbed  knight  stood  forth  in  all  his  consequential  dimensions. 
He  was,  perhaps,  prepared  for  this  responsible  service  by  liberal 
assignments  to  "policing  ;"  but  nothing  ever  created  so  much 
disgust  per  capita,  to  the  unfledged  volunteer,  as  what  was 
known  in  camp  discipline  as  police-duty.  "  I  enlisted  to  put 
down  the  Rebellion,  not  to  pick  up  garbage,  sweep  streets,  clean 
out  sinks,  and  mow  brush  !  "  Now,  this  high-toned,  fastidious 
palladium  of  the  Union  learned  a  great  many  things  in  the 
course  of  three  years;  and,  before  "the  cruel  war  was  over,"  he 
was  far  readier  to  clean  out  a  sink  than  to  fight  a  battle. 
Besides,  it  was  a  curious  fact,  that  those  who,  at  home,  devoted 
their  manly  powers  to  the  most  ignoble  occupations,  were  most 
outspoken  in  their  protests  against  menial  service  in  the  army. 
But  guard-duty  was  another  matter.  It  flattered  the  green 
recruit,  and  we  were  all  green  at  first ;  though  one  month  after 


CAPT.  G.  T.  BLANCHARD.  CAPT.  CHAS.  P.  HALL. 


CAPT.  FRANK  T.  BARKER. 


LIEUT.  JOHN  L.  KING.  LIEUT.  CHAS.  G.  HOWARD. 


COMPANY   A   OFFICERS:^  i  V 


SOME  LUDICROUS  FEATURES.  47 

muster,  such  were  the  marvellous  developments,  there  were 
none  but  veterans  in  the  entire  command. 

It  was  a  striking  phenomenon,  the  rapidity  with  which  the 
citizen  matured  into  the  experienced  campaigner ;  and  there  was 
nothing  like  guard-duty  to  ripen  him.  As  he  sat  in  his  mess, 
munching  his  first  hard-tack,  and  soaking  his  beard  with  his 
coffee,  he  told  stories  of  army  experience,  amply  sufficient  to 
cover  all  the  campaigns  from  Lodi  to  Waterloo,  or  from  Bull 
Run  to  Appomattox.  It  was  rare  amusement  for  the  genuine 
veteran  to  behold  the  burlesque  performances  of  a  new  battalion, 
when,  at  nine-o'clock  "guard-mounting,"  it  developed  all  the 
grotesqueness  of  unpractised  service,  —  a  farce  in  one  act,  last 
ing  twenty-four  hours,  to  be  repeated  next  day  with  slight 
modifications  in  the  way  of  doubtful  improvement. 

In  the  realm  of  greenness  there  was  unquestioned  democracy, 
for  officers  and  men  vied  with  each  other  in  tangling  all  move 
ments  and  bungling  every  ceremony.  It  was  a  trying  ordeal  to 
those  officers  who  desired  to  show  off  uniform,  sash,  Damascus 
blade,  and  a  form  of  Achilles  to  the  best  advantage.  Those 
who  were  cool  enough  to  perpetrate  a  gross  blunder,  and  act  as 
though  it  were  the  correct  thing,  became  at  once  popular  all 
along  the  line;  while  he  who  came  very  near  to  tactical  exact 
ness,  though  somewhat  nervous  and  hesitating  in  execution, 
was  voted  "  no  military  man." 

Who  can  forget  the  first  night  on  guard  in  the  camp  at  Con 
cord  ?  Arms  had  not  been  issued,  and  a  few  old  worthless  mus 
kets  were  secured  with  which  to  give  a  semblance  of  prowess  to 
the  camp-guard ;  but  there  were  so  feAV  of  these  obsolete  weap 
ons,  that  each  relief  was  marched  out  unarmed,  and  the  soldier 
on  duty  surrendered  his  musket  with  the  beat  to  his  successor. 
The  first  attempts  at  camp-guard  duty  were  counted  a  good 
joke  ;  and  really  it  amounted  to  no  more,  for  it  was  the  baldest 
piece  of  soldierly  masquerading  that  could  well  be  imagined. 
The  men  were  not  even  uniformed,  and  the  regiment  had  not 
entered  upon  its  martial  dignity  sufficiently  to  give  an  imposing 
character  to  any  of  its  performances.  The  guard  was  chiefly 
set  as  a  discipline  for  the  troops,  that  they  might  become  fainil- 


48  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

iarized  with  the  routine  of  the  first  duty  likely  to  be  imposed  in 
actual  service.  But  nobody  appeared  to  know  exactly  how  to 
mount,  set,  relieve,  or  comprehensively  to  manipulate,  a  camp- 
guard. 

Great  things  were  expected  from  those  of  the  rank  and  file, 
not  mentioning  commissioned  officers,  who  had  served  for  a  time 
earlier  in  the  war  as  three-months'  men,  or  otherwise ;  but  the 
fact  was,  that  no  one  talked  more  or  knew  less  than  the  average 
"  returned  soldier  "  in  the  second  year  of  the  Rebellion.  One 
of  these  battle-scarred,  sanguinary  heroes  of  Bull  Run  used  to 
gravely  inform  gaping  crowds  at  home  that  "  flying  artillery  " 
was  a  battery  which  fired  at  the  enemy  while  "  on  the  dead 
run."  All  over  the  North,  in  1862,  these  returned  soldiers 
boasted  of  their  achievements,  and  hinted  at  their  military  in 
sight  with  more  of  unction  than  animated  Miles  Standish  as  he 
recounted  his  exploits  in  Flanders.  Their  deeds  of  prowess 
"would  be  argument  for  a  week,  laughter  for  a  month,  and 
a  good  jest  forever."  Now,  it  was  scarcely  possible  to  organ 
ize  a  regiment  in  the  summer  or  fall  of  the  year  referred  to, 
without  finding  that  the  enlistment-net  had  dragged  in  few 
or  several  of  these  —  some  of  them  —  uncanny  fish,  or  eels, 
if  their  slippery  nature  be  considered ;  for,  with  a  surprising 
celerity,  the  same  dubious  patriots  soon  slipped  out  of  these, 
as  they  had  from  former  regiments :  and,  as  by  miracle,  recov 
ering  from  diseases  upon  which  discharges  had  been  procured, 
many  of  them  were  found  mustered  in  battalions  subsequently 
raised. 

"  The  bearings  of  these  observations  lays  in  the  application 
on  'em,"  and  it  were  a  libel  upon  thousands  of  noble  men  to 
intimate  that  they  were  subjects  of  the  picture  herein  drawn. 
We  confine  our  remarks  strictly  to  those  who  are  fairly  por 
trayed  in  the  above  description,  and  the  originals  are  easily 
recalled.  Such  were  more  intractable  than  the  greenest  of 
greenhorns ;  for  they  knew  altogether  too  much  to  be  taught, 
and  too  little  to  do  any  thing  correctly.  And  thus  it  occurred, 
that  in  the  first  essay  at  martial  exercises,  namely,  camp-guard 
at  Concord,  the  few  war-worn  veterans  whose  names  sprinkled 


RUNNING    THE   GUARD.  49 

the  rolls  of  the  Fourteenth  were  of  small  utility  in  forwarding 
discipline  and  securing  precision. 

If  the  boys  were  in  any  exigency  for  a  new  device  for  "  rais 
ing  Cain,"  this  mammoth  camp-guard  frolic  met  every  demand. 
The  cordon  was  stretched  around  the  barracks  with  the  osten 
sible  aim  of  preventing  the  men  from  going,  without  leave  of 
absence,  to  the  city.  But  the  stringency  and  effectiveness  of 
the  sentry-line  can  now  be  recalled  with  wonder.  Sentries  fre 
quently  could  not  see  a  man  leaving  camp,  for  the  excellent 
reason  that  they  were  walking  the  other  way ;  a  guard  who  was 
unable  to  read  writing  was  overwhelmed  with  a  suspicious 
number  of  passes,  which  never  saw  the  commanding  officer's 
headquarters ;  there  was  an  unconscionable  number  of  officers' 
orderlies  and  servants  going  on  pressing  errands  for  their  mas 
ters  ;  while  those  guards  who  were  of  high  integrity,  and  sternly 
intent  upon  doing  their  full  duty,  were  tortured,  just  after 
nightfall,  by  seeing  one  after  another  of  their  daring  comrades 
mask  their  faces  and  coolly  run  the  guard,  while  they  had  nei 
ther  a  musket  nor  a  disposition  to  effectually  halt  them. 

But  the  attempt  to  keep  the  men  out  was  far  more  successful 
than  the  opposite  endeavor,  for  the  spirit  of  mischief  supple 
mented  the  letter  of  the  law ;  and  on  several  nights  of  low  tem 
perature,  at  the  witching  midnight  hour,  homeward-bound  con 
viviality  had  time  to  cool  outside  the  lines,  while  all  the  red 
tape  in  the  regulations,  and  considerably  more,  was  gone  through 
with:  and  the  end  of  that  night's  frolic  was  occasionally  the 
guard-house,  and  not  the  coveted  barrack's  bunk. 

It  is  at  Offutt's  Cross  Roads,  and  especially  at  Poolesville, 
that  we  find  our  freshman  guardsman  advanced  to  the  sopho- 
moric  period.  He  has  learned  a  thing  or  two,  and  is  deftly 
paying  off  camp-grudges  on  some  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers ;  for  woe  to  the  corporal  who  has  charge  of  a  relief  with 
two  or  three  privates  in  it  who  have  a  spite  to  gratify.  That 
unhappy  corporal  is  kept  running  the  entire  two  hours  ;  or,  when 
he  temporarily  takes  the  beat  of  a  private,  said  private  is  in  no 
haste  to  return  to  his  post,  and,  when  he  does  resume  it,  another 
is  ready  to  utilize  the  two-chevroned,  miserable  magnate  of  the 


50  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

relief.  These  are  times  when  the  welkin  is  made  to  ring  by 
the  stentorian  bawling,  "  Corprul  the  guard  —  post  twenty-one," 
reiterated,  re-echoed,  and  intensified  by  every  sentry  round  the 
line,  and  kept  flying  until  the  corporal  is  distracted,  and  isn't 
a  bit  proud  of  his  rank.  The  sergeant  of  the  guard,  also,  was 
somehow,  in  those  days,  made  to  do  a  good  deal  of  camp- 
running. 

Another  feature  of  this  undergraduate  guard-duty  or  instruc 
tion  period  was  the  custom  of  the  members  of  each  relief  to 
sleep  in  their  own  bunks ;  so  that,  when  the  third  and  first 
reliefs  were  to  be  called  at  one  and  three  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  the  corporal  must  go  through  each  company  street,  visit 
the  tents,  and  wake  up  his  men.  If  he  had  fifteen  men  to  rouse, 
he  was  quite  certain,  if  ordinarily  smart,  to  stir  up  at  least 
thirty  wrong  and  wrathful  warriors;  and  he  never  failed  to 
evolve  a  hundred  curses  per  man  :  so  that  by  the  time  he  got  his 
relief  together,  some  of  them  having  to  be  called  two  or  three 
times,  the  corporal  was  in  a  happy  frame,  which  was  much 
enhanced  by  the  objurgations  of  each  of  the  old  relief,  who  had 
stood  on  their  posts  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  over  time. 

A  pretty  feature  of  Poolesville  guard-duty  was  the  unac 
countable  custom,  which  sergeants  and  corporals  of  the  guard 
affected,  of  carrying  ramrods  while  on  duty.  It  was  as  near  as 
they  could  get  to  wearing  a  sword,  and  was  vastly  handier  than 
lugging  a  musket.  These  and  other  violations  of  regulations 
and  discipline  were  tolerated  during  the  first  months  of  service 
principally  through  ignorance ;  but  by  the  time  Camp  Adiron 
dack  was  occupied,  in  1863,  all  the  nonsense  of  this  duty  was 
banished,  the  reliefs  were  kept  together,  discipline  was  enforced, 
and  there  was  no  more  exact  or  efficient  guard-duty  performed 
in  all  the  Union  armies  than  that  which  was  done  in  camp  and 
in  most  responsible  stations  of  every  kind  by  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment.  The  arduous  duties  in  the  city  of  Washington 
tested,  not  only  the  endurance  and  the  discipline,  but  the  high 
morale  of  the  regiment ;  and  it  is  a  part  of  our  high  heritage  to 
remember  that  no  troops  which  occupied  the  national  capital 
won  more  flattering  encomiums. 


GROWTH  OF  A   REGIMENT.  51 

The  Old-Capitol  Prison,  Navy-yard  Bridge,  Central  Guard 
house,  south  end  of  Long  Bridge,  Benning's  Bridge,  Sixth- 
street  Wharf,  G-street  Wharf,  and  all  the  departments  of  the 
government,  together  with  numerous  other  localities  and  expe 
ditions,  were  witnesses  to  the  hard  and  faithful  work  of  the 
Fourteenth  Regiment.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  those  who 
served  there,  to  mention  that  the  Central  Guard-house  and  the 
quarters  at  the  south  end  of  Long  Bridge  are  in  almost  exactly 
the  same  condition  as  when  occupied  by  our  detachments  nine 
teen  years  ago.  Most  of  the  other  familiar  spots  are  much 
changed,  although  large  sections  of  Washington  are  as  they 
were  in  the  stirring  era  of  the  war.  In  an  active  campaign,  no 
such  thing  as  camp-guard  is  needed:  the  men  are  quite  glad  to 
remain  in  camp  if  a  spot  is  occupied  long  enough  to  dignify  it 
with  the  name  of  camp,  and  foraging  and  picket-duty  furnish 
all  needed  outside  excitement.  But,  through  all  vicissitudes, 
the  veteran  looks  back  with  amused  interest  to  the  awkward- 
squad  period ;  and  camp-guard  reminiscences  are  worth  cherish 
ing  as  a  portion  of  a  trying  and  wonderfully  varied  experience. 


The  early  development  of  regimental  life  is  a  series  of  sur 
prises,  and  this  continues  until  even  novelty  becomes  monoto 
nous.  The  new-fledged  soldier  finds  his  old  habits  curbed  at 
every  turn,  and  strange  requisitions  constantly  made  upon  his 
intelligence  and  endurance.  The  minor  experiences  of  the 
initiatory  camp  are  replete  with  interest  and  amusement.  Per 
sonal  peculiarities  are  not  masked  in  a  military  uniform.  And 
so  it  transpired  in  the  camp  at  Concord,  that  all  imaginable 
traits  were  developed.  Before  officers  were  elected,  a  phenom 
enal  generosity  was  witnessed.  It  must  have  been  the  rigors 
of  camp  discipline  which  operated  to  check  the  effusive  benefi 
cence  when  it  was  determined  just  who  were  to  wear  shoulder- 
straps  and  carry  swords.  Into  one  company  barracks  was 
ushered  a  mammoth  box  of  doughnuts,  and  the  boys  were  made 
welcome  by  the  public-spirited  importer  direct  from  the  home 


52  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

kitchen.  There  were  interesting  pranks  played;  and,  in  both  a 
serious  and  jovial  sense,  each  day  was  crowded  full  of  activity 
and  adventure. 

One  man,  who  became  diurnally  inspired  with  wakefulness  at 
the  wrong  end  of  the  day,  and  whose  extraordinary  oratorical 
powers  were  easily  stimulated,  and  far  exceeded  his  intelligence, 
was  ready  every  night,  after  taps,  to  spread  his  stentorian  notes 
throughout  the  company  barracks.  He  continued  the  perform 
ance  for  a  week,  when  a  young  man  interfered.  That  young 
volunteer  learned  a  lesson  which  ought  to  have  sufficed  for  two 
wars.  He  was  foolish  enough  to  believe  that  night  was  in 
tended  for  sleep,  and  that  boisterous  privates  were  amenable  to 
military  rules.  He  discovered  his  mistake.  Being  urged  by 
some  of  the  best  men  in  the  company,  —  who  were  smart  enough 
not  to  go  themselves,  —  he  reported  the  war-dance  to  the  lieu 
tenant  in  command.  His  amiability  was  not  increased  by  a 
disturbance  of  his  midnight  nap,  but  he  sent  back  orders  for 
private  Congdon  to  "  shut  up  !  "  Private  Congdon  responded 
to  the  order  with  a  blasphemous  blessing  upon  the  lieutenant's 
head,  and  a  material  increase  of  his  hullabaloo.  Another  report 
to  the  lieutenant  by  the  exasperated  youth,  which  drew  forth 
the  order,  "  Tell  the  sergeant  that  if  he  don't  stop  his  noise  to 
put  him  in  the  guard-house."  The  pow-wow  deepened  ;  and  the 
vociferous  Congdon  was  marched  off  to  the  guard-house,  which 
he  transformed  into  a  bedlam  until  near  morning. 

But  the  denotiment  was  an  humiliating  commentary  on  the 
virtue  of  that  youth.  The  aforesaid  Congdon  was  a  favorite  of 
the  lieutenant :  in  fact,  the  private  had  been  efficient  in  assuring 
the  shoulder-straps.  In  the  morning,  after  the  imprisoned  man 
arrived  at  a  realizing  sense  of  his  situation,  he  was  furious  in 
his  wrath,  and  confronted  the  sergeant,  who  referred  him  to  the 
lieutenant  who  gave  the  orders  for  confinement.  The  lieutenant 
had  so  short  a  memory,  that  he  solemnly  averred  that  no  such 
order  had  been  given  by  him.  The  result  was,  that  the  youthful 
complainant  was  himself  marched  off  to  the  guard-house  for 
communicating  the  order.  A  victim  had  been  found :  the 
lieutenant  was  exculpated,  the  private  was  placated.  In 


RIDICULOUS   CONTRIBUTIONS.  53 

another  company  a  more  modest  performer  contented  himself 
with  going  through  the  barracks  and  stripping  the  blankets 
from  the  men  three  or  four  times  during  the  night. 

In  the  fitting  out  of  a  volunteer  regiment  for  active  service, 
neither  the  State  nor  National  governments  appeared  to  take  a 
leading  part.  First  came  the  family  friends  with  several  scores 
of  absolutely  indispensable  articles,  such  as  thimble,  scissors, 
paper  of  pins,  a  needle-book  with  all  sizes  of  needles,  several 
spools  of  thread,  a  big  ball  of  yarn  for  darning,  —  some  went  so 
far  as  to  put  in  a  bundle  of  patches, — buttons,  bandages,  —  these 
were  a  few  of  the  motherly,  wifely,  or  sisterly  tokens,  tucked 
away  in  the  soldier's  knapsack.  Then  outside  friends  brought 
their  offerings,  among  them  cases  of  medicine  for  self-doctoring; 
tourniquets  for  the  stoppage  of  blood-flow ;  havelocks,  handker 
chiefs,  etc.  Masculine  admirers,  who  had  a  sanguinary  idea  of 
soldiering, — for  others,  —  contributed  their  addition  to  the  outfit 
in  the  shape  of  enormous  pocket-knives  containing  a  complete 
kit  of  tools ;  dirks  ;  revolvers  with  bullet-mould  and  powder-flask. 
A  knife-fork-and-spoon  contrivance  was  a  trophy  for  the  more 
favored  ones.  Yet  this  was  only  a  beginning.  While  in  camp 
at  Concord,  the  money  obtained  easily  was  expended  lavishly. 
Innumerable  knick-knacks,  as  useless  as  numerous,  were  laid  in 
store.  One  of  the  favorite  articles  of  outfit  was  the  steel-plated 
vest,  a  garment  into  which  a  pair  of  heavy  iron  breast-plates 
were  to  be  slipped  when  going  into  action,  at  other  times  to  be 
carried  in  the  knapsack.  When  the  paraphernalia  enumerated 
above  was  all  arranged,  and  mounted  on  the  soldier's  back,  a 
giant  would  succumb  to  such  a  load  on  a  moderate  march.  It 
is  not  to  be  inferred  that  a  majority  of  the  regiment  so  ridicu 
lously  handicapped  themselves,  but  many  did ;  and  nearly  all 
packed  their  knapsacks  with  a  medley  which  would  have  been 
judged  absurd  by  themselves  when  settled  down  to  genuine 
campaign  work. 

The  regular  outfit  of  the  regiment  was  issued  in  parcels. 
October  9,  rubber  blankets  and  haversacks  were  drawn  from  the 
quartermaster.  The  day  following,  the  State  bounty  of  fifty  dol- 


54  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

lars  was  paid.  The  town  bounties  were  paid  by  agents  from  the 
several  towns,  who  paid  the  men  as  soon  as  they  were  accepted 
and  mustered.  The  United-States  bounty  was  paid  on  the  same 
conditions.  On  the  15th  guns  and  equipments  were  supplied  ; 
and  this  was  the  day  when,  according  to  rumor,  the  Fourteenth 
was  to  leave  the  State  :  but  rumor  then,  as  generally  in  a  mili 
tary  camp,  was  entirely  at  fault ;  for  a  third  of  a  month  elapsed 
before  the  order  came.  On  the  urgent  recommendation  of  Peter 
Sanborn,  State  treasurer,  the  allotment  system  was  adopted  by  a 
large  proportion  of  the  men,  whereby  from  eight  to  ten  dollars 
a  month  were  reserved  from  their  wages  by  the  paymaster,  and 
paid  to  the  friends  at  home  to  whom  the  allotment  was  made. 
This  plan  resulted  in  a  considerable  check  on  the  reckless  ex 
penditure  of  many  in  the  army.  After  arms  were  issued,  drill 
ing  in  both  the  manual  and  movements  was  carried  on  with  more 
of  vigor  and  interest ;  Lieut.-Col.  Barker  being  generally  in  com 
mand  when  the  battalion  was  in  line. 

Thursday,  October  16,  was  a  red-letter  day  in  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Fourteenth.  A  regiment  without  colors  is  a  mere 
double  string  of  armed  men  arranged  by  companies.  The 
moment  a  battalion-line  is  formed,  there  is  an  instinctive  de 
mand  for  the  colors ;  and,  after  an  experience  in  the  greatest 
war  in  history,  every  veteran  will  affirm,  that  the  most  vivid  of 
the  descriptions  of  a  soldier's  devotion  to  the  flag,  to  the  colors 
of  his  regiment,  is  no  poetic  fiction,  but  is  quite  within  the 
truth.  With  full  ranks  the  regiment  marched  to  the  city,  to 
engage  in  the  crowning  ceremony  of  its  organization.  Mar 
shalled  in  front  of  the  State  House,  at  parade-rest,  the  regiment 
stood,  and  listened  to  the  presentation  speech  of  Treasurer 
Sanborn.  The  colors  were  received  for  the  regiment  by  Col. 
Wilson,  without  remarks.  The  command  was  then  prepared 
for  inspection,  in  State-house  Square,  and  was  carefully  in 
spected  by  Capt.  Holmes  of  the  regular  army.  The  Fourteenth 
was  now  as  fully  prepared  for  active  service  as  it  could  be,  save 
in  the  somewhat  important  matter  of  arms.  In  response  to  an 
inquiry,  Col.  Wilson  remarked  of  them,  "  They  are  about  as 
efficient  as  pitchforks." 


TO   THE  SEAT  OF   WAR.  55 

At  seven  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  October  18,  the 
last  line  was  formed  in  Camp  Cheshire.  The  great  battalion 
stretched  out,  in  a  magnificent  formation  ;  and  "  by  the  right 
flank,  file  right,"  the  column  moved  out  to  the  music,  first  of 
drum-corps,  then  of  the  band.  It  was  an  interesting  spectacle, 
—  to  see  a  thousand  soldiers,  but  yesterday  in  civil  life,  march 
ing  away  from  their  homes  and  the  dearest  objects  of  existence, 
to  venture  every  hardship  that  a  colossal  struggle,  covering 
a  thousand  battle-fields,  involved,  with  a  risk  of  life  that 
amounted  to  a  certainty  of  death  for  a  large  number. 

The  men  were  loaded,  some  of  them  until  they  staggered; 
and  the  mile  and  a  half  of  march  to  the  railroad  station  was  a 
fatiguing  exercise.  At  8.20  the  train  left  Concord,  reaching 
Worcester  at  noon,  where  a  brief  halt  was  made.  Passing 
through  Norwich,  Conn.,  the  train  reached  Allyn's  Point,  on 
the  Thames,  at  5.30  o'clock ;  and  two  hours  later  the  regiment 
embarked  on  the  Sound  steamer,  "City  of  New  York,"  from 
which  it  landed  in  Jersey  City  Sunday  morning.  Philadelphia 
was  reached  at  three  P.M.  of  that  day  ;  and  the  regiment  marched 
through  the  city,  taking  another  train  at  six  o'clock,  which  ar 
rived  in  Baltimore  early  in  the  morning,  on  Monday,  the  20th. 
Leaving  Baltimore  at  nine  o'clock,  Washington  was  reached  at 
five  P.M. 

The  strength  of  the  regiment  when  it  entered  the  service  was 
about  970,  officers  and  men:  A,  95;  B,  97;  D,  96;  I,  80;  C, 
100 ;  F,  85 ;  H,  80  ;  K,  85 ;  E,  96  ;  G,  94.  Twenty  men  were 
detailed  for  the  band,  under  a  citizen  leader.  His  salary  was 
made  up  by  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  The  drum-corps  con 
sisted  of  ten  fifers  and  ten  drummers.  The  pioneer-corps  con 
sisted  of  details  of  members  from  the  different  companies. 


TO   THE    SEAT   OF   "WAR. 

There  was  no  demonstration  of  patriotism  more  flattering  to 
the  Union  soldier  of  the  East  than  the  ovations  which  awaited 
him  at  every  step  throughout  New  England,  extending,  at  first, 
even  to  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  as,  by  train,  steamer,  and 


56  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

brief  marches,  his  regiment  moved  from  the  home-camp  to  the 
seat  of  war.  In  spontaneity  and  enthusiasm  those  tributes  were 
magnificent ;  and  the  cheers  of  men,  the  glee  of  children,  with 
the  smiles  and  handkerchief-salutes  of  earnest  women,  followed 
their  country's  defenders  to  lonely  beat,  weary  march,  and  hos 
pital  cot,  —  an  inspiration  whose  impulse  was  not  lost  until  the 
lurid  fires  of  war  were  quenched.  It  could  not  have  been  the 
novelty  of  the  spectacle  which  prompted  such  overflows  of  loyal 
sentiment,  so  gratifying  to  those  whose  minds  were  alert  and 
eager  for  the  active  duties  of  the  field,  but  whose  hearts  were 
heavy  over  separations  which  stirred  a  keener  anguish  than  they 
ever  knew  before.  This  festive  greeting  and  Godsend  was  one 
of  the  most  exhilarating  novelties  of  an  experience  that  was 
novel  in  all  its  phases  until  the  dread  monotonies  of  war  brought 
too  many  organizations  into  a  routine  where  even  death  ceased 
to  attract  attention.  The  ovations  we  mention  were  worthy  of 
the  great  people  whose  national  future  was  to  be  determined  by 
the  glistening  bayonets  gathering  from  State-camps,  and  con 
verging  on  the  great  salient  lines  of  conflict.  They  were  on  a 
scale  commensurate  with  the  resources  and  patriotism  of  the 
country ;  and  they  engendered  a  grateful  sentiment  among  the 
troops,  not  dissipated  while  the  forces  of  the  Rebellion  stood  in 
wicked  array  against  government  and  right. 

Loaded  to  the  last  limit  of  endurance,  knapsacks  and  other 
trappings  weighing  nearly,  or  quite,  fifty  pounds,  the  men 
marched  from  the  home-camp  to  the  station,  and  embarked  in 
good  passenger-coaches.  The  train  was  no  lightning-express,  — 
nothing  more  than  a  respectable  freight  for  speed,  —  a  fact 
quite  agreeable  to  the  soldier-boy  who  was  never  before  fifty 
miles  from  his  native  hearth,  and  who  now  got  an  idea  of  the 
home  circle  which  never  occurred  to  him  before.  The  more 
venturesome  among  the  men  soon  perched  themselves  on  top 
of  the  cars,  where,  with  song  and  jest,  and  a  general,  sometimes 
roistering,  jollity,  they  saluted  or  bantered  everybody  within 
reach  of  their  voices. 

On  these  expeditions,  as  in  all  movements  of  volunteer  troops, 
there  were  those  who  always  stood  out  prominently  as  spokes- 


CAPT.  C.  W  .HODGDO 


LIEUT.  W.  H.SARGENT. 


LIEUT.  STARK  FELLOWS. 


LIEUT.  CHAS.  O.  CRAGIN 


LIEUT.  JOHN  N.  BROWN. 

COMPANY  D  OFFICERS. 


SCENES   OF  THE  JOURNEY.  57 

men,  representing,  or  oftener  misrepresenting,  the  better  ele 
ment,  unobtrusive  character,  and  sentiment  of  the  great  body  of 
the  regiment.  But  all  rudeness  and  uncouth  manners  were 
overlooked  by  good-natured  and  sympathetic  crowds  in  a  mood 
to  forgive  any  thing  but  the  colossal  treason  behind  the  war, 
which,  in  the  same  breath,  welcomed  for  the  first  and  bid  adieu 
for  the  last  time,  greeting  men  they  never  saw  before  and  would 
never  see  again.  During  the  first  year  of  the  war,  liberal  and 
choice  refreshments  were  dispensed  wherever  the  volunteers 
stopped  en  route  for  the  front :  but  the  drains  were  so  heavy,  the 
calls  so  varied  and  frequent,  that  somewhere  the  lavish  outgo 
must  be  curtailed ;  and  the  regiments  entering  service  in  1862 
were  not  feasted  so  generously  on  their  outward  passage  as 
were  their  predecessors. 

It  was  the  good  fortune  of  many  new  regiments  to  have  their 
transportation  varied  by  a  steamer  passage  for  a  portion  of  the 
distance.  Many  a  full  battalion  marched  upon  the  decks  of  some 
magnificent  sound,  lake,  or  river  boat,  not  one-quarter  of  whose 
membership  had  ever  previously  seen  a  steamboat  of  any  size. 
The  revelations,  the  surprises,  the  lessons  treasured  forever,  of 
such  a  trip,  in  the  case  of  a  susceptible  youth,  cannot  be  pictured, 
nor  even  imagined.  The  night  voyage  over  Long- Island  Sound  ; 
the  meeting  with  other  steamers  ;  the  passing  of  sailing  craft  of 
all  kinds ;  distant  lighthouses  and  ships ;  a  light-spangled  city 
on  a  distant  shore,  round  which  the  fertile  imagination  clustered 
all  sorts  of  romantic  situations  and  incidents ;  the  broad,  far- 
stretching  shimmer  of  the  full  moon,  transforming  the  wonder 
ful  sheet  of  rippling  water  into  a  fairy  sea,  glorious  and  unreal ; 
the  strange,  phosphorescent  wake  of  the  great,  throbbing  palace, 
which  went  skimming  along  into  the  dim,  silent,  mysterious  dis 
tance  ;  away  to  the  right  the  six  masts  of  the  "  Great  Eastern," 
revealing  the  fact  that  a  glimpse  had  been  secured  of  that  won 
der  of  navigation,  —  all  this  without,  and  the  mechanical  and 
architectural  wonders  within,  filled  the  mental  stomach  of  the 
unsophisticated  volunteer  with  a  mass  of  nourishment,  which,  in 
all  probability,  is  not  yet  fully  digested. 

It  always  happened  that  orderly-sergeants  were  obliged  to 


58  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

revise  and  shorten  their  rolls  after  leaving  New  York,  although 
Baltimore  was  indisputably  the  banner  city  for  desertions  from 
loyal  regiments  passing  through.  The  only  loss  was  in  substi 
tutes  and  bounty-jumpers,  who  hurried  back  to  serve  their  coun 
try,  briefly,  in  another  regiment,  for  another  bounty.  The  cause 
really  gained  by  such  desertions,  for  any  thing  was  preferable  to 
the  presence  of  such  worthless  material  in  a  respectable  military 
organization. 

Transportation  from  Jersey  City  was  again  secured  to  the 
eager  troops  in  good  passenger-coaches ;  and  the  trip,  via  the 
Camden  and  Amboy  Railroad,  was  quick  and  pleasant.  Leav 
ing  the  cars  at  Camden,  opposite  Philadelphia,  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Delaware,  in  better  shape  than  did  Washington  in 
1777,  according  to  the  historic  picture.  But  there  was  one 
point  of  similarity  between  the  followers  of  the  Father  of  his 
Country,  and  a  Union  regiment  making  an  uninterrupted  pas 
sage  from  New  England  to  the  front,- — they  were  both  "  power 
ful  hungry."  There  is  something  appalling  in  the  appetite  of  a 
thousand  men  after  they  have  taken  the  longest  ride  of  their 
lives ;  and  there  is  also  that  about  such  a  migration  prompting 
the  unoccupied  soldier  to  eat  all  the  time,  with  no  satiety.  A 
battalion  just  hungry  enough  is  the  most  tractable  body  of  men 
imaginable ;  a  little  beyond  that  point  the  colonel  will  do  well 
to  tighten  his  grip  and  keep  them  moving ;  but,  when  the  stom 
ach  begins  to  clamor  loudly,  patriotism  is  but  a  stammering 
whisperer  in  competition.  The  reader  is  respectfully  referred 
to  the  article  on  foraging  for  more  light  on  this  point. 

From  Camden  into  Philadelphia  was  crossing  the  Rubicon; 
and  if  it  be  true  that  — 

"  Hungry  judges  soon  the  sentence  sign, 
And  wretches  hang  that  jurymen  may  dine," 

surely  the  amiable  ferocity  of  a  well-nigh  famished  regiment  is 
not  to  be  wondered  at,  even  if  it  be  deplored.  But  Phila 
delphia  !  long  may  the  aroma  of  her  unexampled  refreshment 
rise  to  stir  grateful  memories  in  "  thousands  of  thousands,  and 
ten  times  of  thousands,"  of  veterans'  breasts!  Philadelphia,  the 


THE  FAMOUS   COOPER-SHOP.  59 

peerless  city,  shut  off  all  opportunity  for  any  demonstration  of 
the  possibilities  residing  in  a  hungry  legion.  On  arriving  in  the 
City  of  Brotherly  Love,  a  council  of  war  revealed  a  monotonous 
unanimity  of  empty  haversacks  all  along  the  line.  Even  the 
Aunt  Betties  had  devoured  the  last  slice  of  frosted  cake,  re 
served  for  the  dreadful  emergency  of  this  journey ;  and  the  last 
mouthful  of  canned  crab-apple  had  followed :  the  last  dollar  of 
young  Live-while-you-have-it  had  been  left  in  a  sand-bank  gro 
cery  of  "  Jarsey,"  and  he  stood  beside  them  fumbling  his  empty 
pockets.  A  general  assault  on  all  cheap  eating-houses  in  the 
vicinity  was  just  planned  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
move,  and  in  five  minutes  was  marched  into  that  grandly  his 
toric  "  cooper-shop,"  which  has  rung  with  the  grateful  comments 
of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  of  the  country's  defenders, 
who  therein  feasted,  to  the  fill  of  satisfaction,  upon  the  most 
liberal  spread  laid  for  volunteers  in  all  the  land  throughout  the 
war,  with  a  bountiful  overflow  with  which  to  replenish  forlorn 
haversacks.  The  effect  was  more  than  electrical.  That  im 
mense  building,  resounding  to  the  tramp  of  a  great  battalion, 
and  full  of  the  rich  odor  of  steaming  coffee,  was  a  shrine  where 
homage  and  gratitude  were  evoked  in  sincerity  and  plenitude. 

The  founders  of  this  noble  benefaction  deserve,  jointly  and  in 
several ty,  a  superlative  monumental  shaft.  The  unique  and 
heartfelt  expressions  of  appreciation  uttered  between  the  big 
arid  rapid  mouthfuls  would  amuse  and  touch  all  who  should 
read  them  could  they  be  gathered  up.  A  pint  of  excellent  cof 
fee,  plenty  of  nice  bread  and  butter,  boiled  ham  and  beef,  crack 
ers,  cheese,  and  often  pickles,  constituted  a  truly  royal  bill  of 
fare  for  clamorous  soldier  stomachs.  Strong  men  cried  like 
children  as  they  enjoyed  a  hospitality  which  reminded  them, 
that,  though  far  from  home,  they  were  not  beyond  the  friendly 
care  and  consideration  of  those  whose  loyalty  was  thoughtful, 
kind,  and  exceeding  tender. 

With  a  cheery  swing  and  merry  march,  the  regiment  crossed 
the  city,  and  took  another  train  for  Baltimore.  The  City  of 
Brotherly  Love  received  an  emphatic,  if  not  a  purely  religious, 
benediction  from  the  well-fed,  high-spirited  troop  as  it  left  the 


60  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

station ;  and  sincere  vows  were  made  that  Philadelphia  should 
never  suffer  the  spoliation  of  Rebel  marauders. 

The  movement  of  a  regiment  from  its  camp  of  organization 
to  the  theatre  of  military  operations  was  tediously  slow,  unless 
one  of  the  periodic  panics  of  "  Washington  threatened  "  pressed 
every  railroad  into  exclusively  military  transportation,  and  sent 
every  available  fragment  of  troops  flying  pell-mell  to  "  save  the 
capita] ;  "  and  it  appeared  that  there  was  a  siding  for  every 
half-mile  of  main  track,  and  at  least  one  train  to  be  waited  for 
at  each  siding.  After  leaving  New  Jersey,  the  enthusiastic 
crowds,  speeding  the  nascent  champions  of  the  flag  on  their  way 
to  Yorktown  trenches,  Chickahominy  swamps,  Potomac  vigils, 
or  coast  expeditions,  dwindled  down  to  corner  crowds  of  small 
bat  boisterous  boys  and  professional  loafers.  Whether  passed 
at  midnight,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Fourteenth,  or  at  mid-day,  the 
mouth  of  the  Susquehanna  furnished  an  episode  fruitful  of  com 
ment  long  afterward  to  those  who  were  awake  to  witness  an 
entire  long  train  of  cars  run  on  a  monster  ferry-boat  at  once. 
The  crossing  at  Havre-de-Grace,  the  train  being  broken  into 
three  sections,  was  a  marvel  to  the  entire  command. 

The  appro?ch  to  Baltimore  was  an  event  memorable  in 
the  history  of  every  regiment  during  the  first  two  years  of  the 
war.  The  heroic  tragedy  of  the  Sixth  Mass,  was  brought  to 
mind  in  every  case.  But  it  was  a  curious  phenomenon,  that, 
when  each  regiment  passed  through  that  suspected  city,  a  riot 
was  just  then  peculiarly  imminent.  At  any  rate,  the  Four 
teenth,  running  into  Baltimore  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
was  all  on  the  qui  vive,  apprehensive  of  an  attack  by  the  des 
perate  plug-uglies,  so  notorious  in  the  early  days  of  the  great 
Rebellion. 

Some  miles  outside  the  city  the  train  was  stopped,  and  each 
man  was  supplied  with  two  rounds  of  ball-cartridge,  together 
with  a  good  deal  of  official  advice  from  certain  line-officers, 
which  must  have  come  quite  directly  from  the  nozzle  of  a  can 
teen.  Loud  was  the  defiance  to  all  Baltimore  if  any  demon 
stration  was  threatened ;  and  there  was  considerable  argument 
as  to  the  propriety  of  leaving  any  thing  at  all  standing  in  the 


PASSING   THROUGH  BALTIMORE.  61 

Monumental  City,  should  audacity  culminate  in  any  overt  act. 
Never  did  two  ounces  of  spherical  lead  and  one  hundred  grains 
of  gunpowder  per  man  prove  such  a  comforting  opiate  to  fear 
and  a  corresponding  incentive  to  bravery.  There  were  more 
Hectors  and  Nestors  in  the  smoky  cars  on  that  dark  morning 
than  ever  rallied  on  the  plains  of  Troy.  And  it  was  one  of  the 
pre-eminently  brilliant  exploits  of  our  history  —  only  equalled 
by  the  brave  stand  of  the  picket-post  on  the  Potomac,  gallantly 
quaking  at  midnight  to  repulse  an  uncommonly  large  covey  of 
ducks  in  its  essay  to  cross  the  river. 

The  regiment  was  armed,  and  every  man  was  supplied  with 
ammunition.  It  was  true  that  the  guns  were  old,  third-hand, 
condemned  smooth-bores ;  it  was  true  that  the  battalion  had 
never  been  taught  to  load  and  fire ;  it  was  true  that  not  half 
the  men  knew  how  to  load  with  ball-cartridge ;  it  was  more 
than  probable,  that,  in  case  any  firing  was  indulged  in,  ten  men 
would  be  struck  by  their  comrades  where  one  was  hit  by  a 
rioter.  All  this  was  reasonably  certain.  Jt  was  a  little  matter 
of  no  consequence,  hardly  worth  mentioning,  —  no  caps  were 
issued  with  the  ammunition,  and  not  a  gun  could  have  been 
fired  in  any  emergency.  Nevertheless,  the  command  was  pano 
plied  for  the  onset ;  and  there  was  an  invincible  host  ready  to 
hurl  the  gage  of  battle  at  the  feet  of  all  Baltimore.  And  those 
sanguinary  preparations  and  heroic  defiances  were  ever  after 
remembered  with  pride ;  for  when  the  train  drew  into  the 
dreadful  Baltimore  station,  and  arms  were  grasped  for  the  fray, 
there  were  discovered  surrounding  the  train  three  negroes,  two 
drunken  sailors,  a  policeman,  and  two  newsboys  prematurely 
out  of  bed. 

What  a  tempest  of  wrath  and  unspeakable  indignation  !  The 
regiment  had  seen  the  last  of  commodious  passenger-coaches, 
and  was  unceremoniously  hustled  into  a  train  of  baggage-cars. 
"  Are  we  cattle,  to  be  used  in  this  way  ?  "  "  Do  they  think, 
because  we  are  so  far  from  home,  they  can  use  us  like  hogs  ?  " 
The  mood  and  the  comment  seem  ineffably  silly  to  a  veteran 
soldier ;  for  a  clean  box-car  was  a  luxury  which  any  weary,  foot 
sore  sick,  ay,  even  sorely-wounded,  volunteer  would  thank  God 


62  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

for  amid  the  death-throbbings  of  the  great  struggle  at  the  front. 
But  the  first  essential  in  the  discipline  of  a  new  regiment  was  a 
"good  taking-down,"  and  it  was  sure  to  come.  We  gladly 
forget  the  storm  of  anathemas  hurled  at  Uncle  Sam's  officials 
for  transporting  a  regiment  from  Baltimore  to  Washington  in 
baggage-cars.  Government-troops  in  general  never  suffered 
very  keenly  nor  extensively  by  transportation  in  box-cars. 

We  made  a  day  of  it.  All  day  long  that  wheezy,  most  out 
rageous  piece  of  mechanism  that  ever  dazed  the  eye  of  man,  a 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  freight-engine,  puffed,  snorted,  backed, 
filled,  and  stopped  as  the  snail-train  crawled  toward  the  capital 
of  a  country  with  a  doubtful  area.  It  was  on  this  stretch 
between  Baltimore  and  Washington  that  the  subtle  and  decep 
tive  persimmon  stole  a  place  in  this  regimental  chronicle.  The 
persimmon  is  a  fair  snare,  a  treacherous  luxury.  The  train 
made  a  long  halt  in  the  middle  of  that  October  afternoon 
beyond  the  Relay  Station,  crowned  by  Gen.  Butler's  frowning 
fort ;  and  it  inscrutably  happened,  that  on  each  side  of  the  track 
stood  half  a  dozen  strange  trees  with  stranger  fruit.  In  fact, 
no  home-bred  Yankee  had  ever  seen  the  like  among  his  granite 
hills. 

It  was  noticed  that  our  Bull-Run  veteran  valiant  —  he  was 
the  man  who,  when  a  three-months'  volunteer,  boasted  that  if 
a  fight  came  on  he  would  be  found  where  the  bullets  were 
thickest :  and  his  prediction  was  literally  verified ;  for  his  com 
rades  found  him  well  to  the  rear,  hid  under  an  ammunition- 
wagon  —  this  highly  respected  oracle  in  res  rebellionce 
chuckled  knowingly  over  the  rush  for  persimmons.  He  had 
been  there  before  ;  and  he  was  persistent  in  urging  all  the  men 
to  secure  the  largest  and  fairest  of  the  fruit,  "  for,"  said  he, 
"  there's  nothing  nicer  than  persimmons."  But  never  before  or 
afterward  was  he  known  to  manifest  such  unselfishness ;  for  he 
contented  himself  with  shrivelled  and  frost-bitten  persimmons, 
generously  passing  on  the  unscathed,  blushing  fruit  to  his 
neighbors.  In  this  way  he  was  noticed  to  have  gathered  a 
quantity  of  what  appeared  to  be  a  worthless  article.  All  along 
the  line,  from  groups  on  top  and  groups  within  the  cars,  as  well 


THE   DECEITFUL  PERSIMMON.  63 

as  among  the  crowd  lining  the  track,  arose  yells  of  disgust,  and 
somewhere  near  a  thousand  mouths  were  screwed  into  the 
vilest  of  puckers;  for  what  can  twist  and  snarl  up  the  mucous 
membrane  like  a  persimmon  before  the  frost  has  hugged  it. 
The  men  soon  learned  that  those  persimmons  which  they  had 
despised  and  trod  upon  were  the  only  ones  fit  to  eat,  and  that 
those  were  delicious. 

Never  a  more  charming  autumn  afternoon  than  that  on  which 
the  Fourteenth  entered  the  national-capital  city  environed  by 
its  defensive  fortresses  and  beleaguered  by  a  desperate  foe. 
Washington  was  not  besieged,  but  a  guerilla  band  of  not  more 
than  one  hundred  sabres  pouncing  down  on  the  Maryland  side 
would  create  a  panic  and  compass  a  general  demoralization. 
The  great  forts  crowned  by  tall  flag-staffs,  bearing  the  stars  and 
stripes,  extending  completely  about  the  city,  on  the  surround 
ing  heights  in  an  imposing  circle,  presented  a  spectacle  calcu 
lated  to  impress  most  effectively  the  minds  of  those  now 
encountering  for  the  first  time  the  real  "pomp  and  circumstance 
of  war." 

With  straining  eyes  each  observer  on  the  car-tops  —  for  every 
square  foot  of  the  roofs  was  covered  —  eagerly  endeavored  to 
descry  the  dome  of  the  Capitol,  which  our  re-enlisted  oracles 
declared  would  be  the  first  landmark  discerned  in  Washington. 
The  sun  was  so  low  that  the  looming  forts  on  Arlington  Heights, 
away  over  the  pathetically  historic  river,  rose  to  an  imposing 
prominence  when,  rounding  a  lazy  curve,  there  stood  forth  in 
the  distance  against  the  glowing  sky  what  appeared  to  be  an 
inverted  two-bushel  basket,  badly  stove  up  in  the  bottom.  The 
reader  will  remember  that  the  dome  of  the  Capitol  was,  at  this 
time,  but  fairly  began  ;  the  upper  portion  existing  only  in  skele 
ton,  with  immense  cranes  and  other  hoisting  mechanisms  sur 
mounting  the  structure  in  grotesque  outline. 

Nearing  the  city,  extensive  earthworks  were  passed,  and  novel 
spectacles  multiplied.  Imagination  was  quite  as  busy  as  the 
eye,  and  romance  cut  all  sorts  of  fantastic  garments  with  which 
to  clothe  with  exaggerated  interest  every  object  and  incident  of 
the  expanding  situation.  The  excitement  increased,  for  an 


64  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

actual  glimpse  of  the  Potomac  River  had  been  obtained.  One 
man  with  a  long-range  vision  was  sure  that  he  saw  the  White 
House.  The  Company  C  "  Truthful  James,"  who  never  intended 
to  be  distanced  when  the  matter  of  statements  was  prominent, 
declared  that  the  White-House  story  was  most  likely  true,  be 
cause  he  could  see  squads  of  Rebel  cavalry  riding  along  on  the 
other  side  of  the  river  beyond  the  forts.  Negro  cabins,  an  army 
of  aimless  curly-heads,  long  winding  trains  of  army-wagons,  big 
warehouses  of  quartermasters'  stores,  immense  stacks  of  com 
missary  supplies,  strolling  soldiers,  a  provost-guard,  groups  of 
furloughed  officers,  barracks,  camps,  hospitals,  parks  of  artillery, 
all  the  varied  and  indescribable  paraphernalia  of  war,  —  we  are 
in  Washington :  we  feel  the  heart-beat  of  the  nation's  life  in  this 
unparalleled  struggle  of  the  later  ages. 

At  half-past  five  o'clock  the  excruciating  locomotive  uttered 
its  final  wheeze,  and  another  Union  regiment  was  ready  to  grap 
ple  the  "  backbone  of  the  Rebellion."  It  was  marched  into  great 
barracks  without  bunks,  and  had  the  privilege  of  reclining,  dur 
ing  its  first  night  in  the  sunny  South,  on  the  soft  side  of  a  plank 
floor. 

The  advent  in  Washington  set  one  matter  outside  the  schedule 
of  anxieties.  Before  muster,  and  while  awaiting  orders  to  the 
front,  even  while  en  route,  a  large  number  of  the  men  expressed 
the  unwilling  opinion  that  the  regiment  would  never  have  the 
opportunity  of  reaching  the  theatre  of  active  operations.  It  was 
freely  wagered  that  "  The  war  will  be  over  before  we  can  get 
there."  Of  course  they  were  glad  to  have  the  war  end ;  but 
they  thought  it  would  be  a  pity,  after  all  the  trouble  and  ex 
pense  incurred,  if  the  Fourteenth  should  be  ordered  home 
without  even  seeing  any  thing  of  the  Rebellion.  The  arrival 
in  Washington  quieted  these  apprehensions ;  and,  before  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service,  very  few  cherished  any 
notion  that  the  Fourteenth  had  been  cheated  out  of  its  share  of 
the  experiences  of  war. 


THE  FIRST  EXPERIENCE.  65 


IT. 

SERVICE. 

THE  Fourteenth  arrived  at  the  theatre  of  war  just  too  late  to 
participate  in  the  remarkable  campaign  initiated  by  Lee's  inva 
sion  of  Maryland.  It  was  undoubtedly  intended  for  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac ;  and  the  two  preceding  regiments  from  New 
Hampshire,  after  remaining  on  Arlington  Heights  for  a  few 
weeks,  were  incorporated  into  that  army  at  Falmouth.  When 
the  Fourteenth  arrived  in  Washington,  the  peculiar  fighting 
which  culminated  in  Antietam  had  just  been  finished :  Lee  was 
retiring  up  the  Valley  with  an  army  almost  intact  when  it  ought 
to  have  been  destroyed ;  McClellan  was  preparing  to  return  to 
the  Rappahannock,  moving  along  the  east  side  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  It  was  evident  that  the  active  campaign  of  1862  in  Vir 
ginia  was  ended  ;  and  hence  the  Fourteenth  was  not  called  upon 
to  swell  the  historic  army  immediately  confronting  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  under  Gen.  R.  E.  Lee. 

Pending  a  decision  as  to  its  destination,  the  regiment,  on  the 
morning  of  October  21,  was  marched  to  East  Capitol  Hill,  where 
it  encamped  in  A  tents  in  a  level  sand-bank  about  one  mile  east 
of  the  Capitol,  for  three  days.  The  stay  there,  enlivened  by 
a  brisk  wind  filtering  the  atoms  of  sand  into  every  recess  of 
the  men's  outfit,  was  long  enough  to  disgust  every  one  with  the 
national  city ;  and  it  was  the  unanimous  conclusion  that  an  ex 
periment  with  Virginia  mud  would  be  far  preferable. 

We  were  probably  indebted  to  the  dashing  Jeb.  Stuart  for 
our  winter's  destination.  While  the  regiment  was  shrinking 
from  sand-cyclones  in  Washington,  the  country  was  startled  and 
thoroughly  scared  by  the  audacious  raid  of  the  said  Stuart  with 


66  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

eighteen  hundred  Rebel  cavalry,  as  he  rode  entirely  around  our 
main  army,  penetrating  to  Chambersburg,  Penn.,  there  inflict 
ing  considerable  damage  and  more  terror,  retiring  in  safety, 
across  the  Potomac  at  White's  Ford. 

McClellan  had  employed  a  considerable  portion  of  his  cavalry 
in  picketing  the  Potomac  while  his  army  occupied  the  Mary 
land  side ;  and  when  he  moved  southward  into  Virginia,  it  was 
necessary,  in  view  of  a  possible  repetition  of  Stuart's  antics, 
and  the  unremitting  maliciousness  of  Moseby's  guerilla  excur 
sions,  to  provide  for  a  permanent  patrol  and  picket  of  the  upper 
Potomac.  The  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  designated  for  this 
service  :  and  on  the  morning  of  October  24  the  sand-drift  camp 
was  broken,  a  good  deal  of  dust  was  shaken  from  the  feet  of  a 
gratified  battalion ;  and  it  merrily  swung  off  by  the  right  flank, 
with  band  playing  and  colors  spread.  The  route  lay  down 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  passing  the  White  House,  and  striking 
the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal  at  the  Aqueduct  Bridge, 
Georgetown. 

That  day's  march,  began  in  glee,  ended  ingloriously.  The 
Fourteenth  was  never  a  regiment  of  heavy  artillery  ;  but  it 
was,  on  the  day  mentioned,  a  very  heavy  infantry  regiment. 
Each  knapsack  was  a  bureau  of  knick-knack  curiosities,  absurd 
comforts,  and  impossible  luxuries.  Not  a  mile  of  ground  had 
been  traversed  before  a  general  murmur  expressed  the  condi 
tion  of  things.  The  iron-clad-vested  men  were  the  first  arid 
loudest  in  their  complaints.  The  lagging,  fagged-out,  green 
volunteers,  panting  over  a  two-mile  march,  must  have  been 
objects  of  ridicule  to  a  veteran  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
At  any  rate,  the  time  came  afterwards  when  we  poured  con 
tempt  upon  other  organizations,  fresh  from  home,  which  were 
surely  not  more  foolish  than  we  had  been. 

The  first  halt  was  made  in  front  of  the  White  House,  and  at 
least  one-third  of  the  battalion  took  a  vigorous  account  of  stock. 
The  men  with  bullet-proof  vests  —  their  hope  and  pride  —  in 
Concord  —  vowed  that  they  would  prefer  to  risk  Rebel  bullets 
rather  than  carry  so  much  old  iron  any  farther.  Steel  breast 
plates  sufficient  to  coat  a  small  gunboat  were  hurled  into  the 


STRIPPING  FOR   SERVICE.  67 

gutter  in  front  of  Father  Abraham's  marble  cottage.  The 
members  of  Company  G  were  wiser  in  their  generation.  They 
hired  a  job-team  to  carry  their  knapsacks,  the  driver  realizing 
about  ten  dollars  for  the  trip. 

A  large  quantity  of  superfluous  articles  was  thrown  away  at 
this  first  halt,  while  the  greater  portion  of  the  men  tenaciously 
clung  to  the  numerous  items  of  overloaded  packs.  They  had 
to  dispense  with  them  all  eventually,  but  it  was  a  sore  trial.  It 
was  the  fashion  to  ridicule  new  regiments  for  providing  so 
extensive  outfits  of  little  notions  as  most  of  the  knapsacks 
would  have  revealed.  A  second  thought  would  have  fully  jus 
tified  such  action,  and  it  was  no  doubt  a  wise  expedient.  There 
was  need  of  a  gradual  diminution  of  enjoyments.  The  most 
abrupt  transition  from  the  unnumbered  comforts  of  home  to 
the  utter  paucity  of  camp-life  was  deplorable,  and  in  most  cases 
unnecessary.  The  gradual  curtailment  was  best :  so  that  those 
who  started  to  serve  their  country  with  fifty-pound  knapsacks, 
and  tapered  off  to  a  rolled  blanket  over  the  shoulder,  were 
philosophical  in  their  military  development ;  and  a  comb,  bit  of 
looking-glass,  and  portfolio,  were  not  essential  foes  of  loyalty, 
discipline,  and  bravery. 

That  night  the  regiment  camped  in  the  woods  above  Chain 
Bridge,  nine  miles  from  Washington.  The  next  day's  march 
was  up  the  tow-path ;  the  knapsacks  being  piled  upon  a  canal- 
boat,  together  with  all  members  of  the  regiment  who  were  smart 
enough  to  suffer  with  a  sudden  infliction,  rendering  them  inca 
pable  of  marching,  and  whose  countenances  were  adorned  with 
sufficient  agony  to  secure  a>  surgeon's  certificate.  We  con 
tinued  on  until  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  when  orders 
to  countermarch  were  given ;  and  the  column  returned  five 
miles  to  Lock  No.  21,  where  an  open-air  bivouac  was  the  only 
night  resort,  no  place  having  been  selected  for  a  camp,  and  no 
tents  being  available  had  a  camp  been  laid  out.  Sleeping 
under  an  open  sky  at  the  last  of  October  was  a  severe  exposure 
for  troops  not  inured  to  campaign  hardships,  nor  accustomed  to 
timely  precautions. 

The   next  day,   October  26,   was  Sunday ;  and   tents   were 


68  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

pitched  on  Adder  Hill,  a  bluff  directly  above  the  lock.  The 
shelter  was  timely ;  for,  before  the  tent-stakes  were  half  driven, 
a  heavy  rain  began,  rendering  the  first  sabbath  of  army  life  in 
the  South  chiefly  memorable  for  its  dreariness  and  discomfort. 
The  proper  apportionment  of  duty  was  manifestly  not  then 
understood,  as  men  stood  five-hour  reliefs  on  picket  that  day 
and  night.  The  surroundings  were  dismal,  and  such  an  intro 
duction  to  active  service  was  not  inspiriting. 

The  Fourteenth  became  a  part  of  an  independent  brigade, 
consisting  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Mass.,  Fourteenth  New  Hamp 
shire,  Tenth  Vt.,  and  Twenty-third  Me.,  with  the  Tenth  Mass. 
Light  Battery,  Capt.  Sleeper,  and,  a  little  later,  Scott's  Nine 
Hundred,  N.  Y.  Cavalry.  Brigadier-Gen.  Cuvier  Grover  was  as 
signed  to  this  command.  He  did  not  long  retain  the  position, 
as  the  government  required  his  services  elsewhere  ;  and  Col. 
P.  S.  Davis,  supposed  to  be  the  ranking  colonel,  assumed  com 
mand.  The  service  required  of  this  brigade  was  more  arduous 
and  involved  a  greater  exposure  than  was  demanded  of  any 
troops  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  during  the  same  season. 
The  green  regiments  enjoyed  no  boys'  play. 

The  incidents  and  surroundings  of  the  first  forty-eight  hours 
of  actual  service  on  the  banks  of  the  Potomac  could  hardly 
have  been  more  depressing.  The  camp  was  on  the  dubious 
slope  of  a  gullied  bluff;  the  tents  poor,  and  severely  tested  at 
once  by  a  drenching  rain  ;  and  seven  men  in  a  tent.  That  sin 
gle  trial  was  a  crucial  test ;  for  as  the  men  met  the  discomforts 
and  hardships  of  the  two  first  days  at  Adder  Hill,  so  they  en 
dured  to  the  end  of  their  connection  with  the  regiment.  Those 
who  sputtered  and  growled  the  worst,  together  with  those  who 
were  jolly,  taking  the  mud,  storm,  and  drenched  blankets  as 
good  jokes,  —  those  were  good  for  every  strain  and  hardship  as 
a  general  rule.  But  the  quietly  despondent  ones,  the  home 
sick  boys,  —  and  there  were  many  such  on  that  chilly,  rainy 
Sunday,  —  were  enrolled,  inevitably,  for  early  death  or  speedy 
discharge. 

The  discomforts  of  those  first  days  at  Lock  21  culminated 
•  in  a  tragedy  which  mantled  the  camp  in  mourning.  Corpl. 


THE  FIRST  DEATH.  69 

George  Norwood,  one  of  the  best  members  of  Company  F,  went 
on  duty  at  one  o'clock  Monday  morning.  He  was  very  low- 
spirited  during  Sunday,  and  spent  most  of  the  day  in  looking 
at  the  portraits  of  friends  at  home,  and  in  talking  of  his  family. 
The  night  was  fearful,  arid  almost  utterly  dark.  Corpl.  Nor 
wood  was  last  seen  on  the  stone-work  of  the  lock  by  Sergt.  A. 
B.  Colburn,  at  two  o'clock.  A  sharp  cry  was  heard  soon  after 
ward,  and  that  is  all  that  discloses  any  trace  of  the  cause  of  the 
first  death  in  the  regiment.  Search  was  instituted,  but  nothing 
could  be  accomplished  before  morning.  The  colonel  and  other 
officers  personally  assisted  in  dragging  the  canal,  and  were  inde 
fatigable  until  his  body  was  found  in  the  bottom  of  the  lock, 
with  his  equipments  upon  him.  His  body  was  sent  home  at  the 
expense  of  his  comrades. 

On  Saturday,  October  30,  the  regiment  held  its  first  dress- 
parade  on  Southern  soil.  Considering  the  rough  experiences  of 
the  preceding  days,  the  men  made  a  good  appearance;  and  there 
was  an  improvement  in  steadiness.  November  was  ushered  in 
by  the  quartermaster  in  the  issuing  of  shelter-tents,  almost  the 
last  article  that  a  soldier  would  think  of  drawing  with  winter 
coming  on.  The  sheets  with  buttons  and  holes  were  utilized  by 
the  men  as  sheets  or  spreads  for  their  bunks.  On  November  4 
Gen.  Grover  inspected  the  regiment,  and  condemned  the  guns, 
much  to  everybody's  satisfaction.  This  was  the  first  glimpse  of 
a  live  general  which  most  of  the  Fourteenth  had  caught,  and 
Gen.  Grover  was  made  of  that  stern  military  stuff  well  calcu 
lated  to  duly  impress  the  raw  recruit,  It  was  innocently  sup 
posed  that  we  should  immediately  be  supplied  with  suitable 
arms,  but  —  an  old  soldier  knows  more  than  a  fresh  one. 

There  were  fellows  who  were  always  fixing  up  their  tents, 
and  they  began  operations  at  Adder  Hill.  They  were  very 
complacent  over  their  A's  changed  into  wall-tents  by  three  and 
four  feet  of  board  sides,  the  boards  having  been  begged,  bought, 
and  —  the  tents  looked  much  better :  but  the  possessors  of  such 
rank-and-file  mansions  were,  within  a  day  dr  two,  the  maddest 
men  we  had  yet  seen ;  for  on  Thursday,  the  13th,  orders  came 
to  move,  and  the  regiment  unceremoniously  decamped,  moving 


70  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

some  distance  from  the  river,  and  nearer  to  Washington,  it  being 
about  sixteen  miles  away.  The  new  camp,  named  Grover,  was 
at  Offutt's  Cross  Roads,  on  the  road  between  Great  Falls  and 
Rockville.  The  men  were  not  then  accustomed  to  such  abrupt 
removals,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  of  nonsensical  grumbling. 
Some  of  the  tent-crews  got  their  betterments  moved  to  the  new 
camp,  a  circumstance  not  enhancing  the  pleasure  of  those  less 
fortunate. 

There  was  some  target  practice  had  at  Adder  Hill,  and  it  may 
be  reckoned  as  among  the  wonderful  events  of  the  great  Rebel 
lion.  The  old  smooth-bores  were  possibly  more  dangerous  at 
the  breech  than  at  the  muzzle ;  for  from  the  latter  nothing  was 
found  to  be  hit,  while  from  the  former  a  victim  cringed  at  every 
shot.  Quite  a  number  of  the  men  had  never  fired  a  gun  in 
their  lives ;  and  several  of  them,  when  commanded  to  fire,  would 
shut  their  eyes,  turn  their  heads  in  the  opposite  direction,  and 
blaze  away.  In  later  months  the  Johnnies  ascertained  that  the 
Fourteenth  had  greatly  improved  in  the  item  of  firing.  It  was 
about  this  time  that  Company  F  earned  the  reputation  of  run 
ning  the  guard-house.  Certainly  on  one  Sunday  eight  or  ten 
of  her  best  men  were  incarcerated  at  one  time.  They  did  not 
turn  out  to  a  company  drill  ordered  by  the  captain,  and  were 
thereby  taught  not  to  have  any  particular  religious  scruples. 
For  some  reason  that  Sunday  drill  was  abolished.  The  guard 
house  was  a  flourishing  institution  in  the  early  days  of  the 
regiment's  existence ;  and,  while  it  created  a  good  deal  of  indig 
nation,  there  was  a  comical  side  to  the  picture  which  was  not 
overlooked  and  will  not  be  forgotten. 

ON  PICKET. 

To  inexperienced  troops  picket-duty  furnished  the  most  try 
ing  ordeal.  It  called  for  physical  endurance  beyond  any  other 
draft  of  military  service,  unless  it  was  that  of  rapid  and  pro 
longed  marches ;  and  when  it  is  considered  that  the  result  of 
a  campaign,  the  fate  of  a  great  army,  and  even  the  future  of  a 
government,  may  depend  upon  the  alertness  of  a  solitary  picket- 


THE  NOVICE   ON  PICKET.  71 

post,  and  turn  upon  the  faithfulness  of  a  single  private  soldier, 
the  strain  upon  officers  and  men  must  be  regarded  as  severe  in 
every  respect.  The  Union  volunteer  when  about  half-seasoned, 
that  is,  midway  between  the  recruit  of  1861-62  and  the  veteran 
of  '65,  was  glib  in  his  denunciation  of  "  red-tape  nonsense," 
especially  as  applied  to  picket  regulations ;  but  the  importance 
of  this  outlying  precaution  for  the  safety  of  an  army  justified 
the  strictest  discipline,  and  was  illustrated  in  scores  of  in 
stances  during  the  late  war,  notably  at  Cedar  Creek,  where  a 
great  disaster  was  inflicted  upon  Sheridan's  army  through  a 
surprise  of  the  picket-line,  a  ruse  de  guerre  which  barely  failed 
of  immeasurably  aiding  the  Rebel  cause.  It  is  quite  possible 
that  all  has  never  been  told  concerning  the  opening  of  that 
day's  drama,  nor  has  it  been  fully  explained  why  it  was  that  the 
first  Rebel-shot  could  have  been  fired  inside  the  breastworks  of 
our  sleeping  army. 

But  no  suspicion  of  carelessness  can  attach  to  the  novice  on 
picket-duty.  He  may  not  know  what  he  is  to  do  nor  how  to 
do  it,  but  he  will  do  something  all  the  time.  He  will  see  every 
thing  there  is  about  him,  hear  a  good  deal  that  isn't,  and  try  to 
halt  every  thing  that  moves.  In  the  presence  of  an  active 
enemy,  the  fresh  and  the  seasoned  soldier  are  equally  vigilant, 
but  in  different  ways.  It  is  undoubtedly  true,  that  for  the  most 
part  our  troops  performed  faithful  and  efficient  picket-service 
during  the  later  campaigns  of  the  war ;  and  the  veteran  volun 
teer  brought  to  this  arduous  service  an  intelligence  and  self- 
reliance^  which  greatly  re-enforced  the  regulation  precautions, 
and  contributed  materially  to  the  triumph  of  our  arms.  But 
he  dispensed  with  all  superfluities,  and  was  perhaps  too  much 
inclined  to  depend  upon  himself  rather  than  upon  rules  and 
orders.  Newly  mustered  troops  on  picket  were  not  only  wide 
awake,  but  decidedly  nervous.  They  literally  followed  instruc 
tions,  though  their  interpretations  of  orders  were  often  amazing, 
even  to  absurdity ;  and  on  occasion  they  could  easily  multiply 
every  order  by  ten,  and  the  product  was  sometimes  curses  and 
confusion. 

Among  the  vivid  pictures  which  memory  retains   of  scenes 


72  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  incidents  in  that  memorable  period,  few  will  stand  out  so 
prominent  and  lasting  as  our  picketing  on  the  Potomac,  with 
Moseby's  guerillas  harassing  every  detachment  and  threatening 
every  ford.  The  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  introduced  to  this 
service  directly  upon  its  arrival  at  the  seat  of  war,  and  through 
all  that  first  winter  the  metal  of  the  men  was  well  tried :  and, 
while  it  was  subsequently  ascertained  that  no  force  of  the  enemy 
had  then  seriously  manoeuvred  in  our  front,  the  regiment  acted 
in  constant  anticipation  of  an  immediate  demonstration ;  and 
the  details  for  outpost  duty  acquitted  themselves  with  zeal  from 
the  first,  and  with  discretion  as  soon  as  it  could  be  acquired. 
There  were  blunders  of  that  period  which  still  cause  the  ears 
of  their  perpetrators  to  tingle  as  they  are  remembered,  and  there 
were  some  fortunate  escapes  from  tragic  consequences. 

The  first  picket-detail  from  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  came 
near  being  the  last  which  the  major  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Mass, 
ever  inspected.  One  of  the  guards,  a  strapping  boy  yet  in  his 
teens,  was  posted  in  a  lonely  thicket  traversed  by  a  winding 
road,  just  the  spot  for  a  surprise ;  and  one  was  apprehended,  for 
Moseby  was  spreading  terror  by  his  ubiquitous  antics  and  exag 
gerated  force :  and  green  troops  in  that  region  verily  believed 
he  would  shoot  or  hang  every  captive.  When  that  boy  was 
left  by  the  sergeant  in  the  desolate  swamp,  being  charged  by 
the  latter  with  innumerable  instructions  which  neither  sergeant 
nor  sentry  comprehended,  he  felt,  as  he  shouldered  his  musket 
and  measured  off  his  beat,  that  the  fate,  not  only  of  Grover's 
brigade,  but  of  all  the  Union  armies,  hung  upon  his  own  vigi 
lance.  He  canvassed  the  probabilities  of  being  hung  or  shot  in 
case  the  guerillas  trapped  him,  and  couldn't  settle  upon  the 
preferable  method  of  sacrifice  by  bushwhackers.  Now,  a  loaded 
rifle  in  such  hands  was  a  weapon  dangerous  to  all  comers,  pro 
vided  the  possessor  took  no  aim  before  firing. 

One  order  rung  in  the  tyro  picket's  ears,  —  "  Halt  every  man 
you  see,  and,  if  he  don't  stop,  shoot  him ! "  and  he  was  deter 
mined  that  he  would  prove  himself  worthy  to  defend  the  coun 
try,  and  vindicate  the  enormous  trust  which  hung,  as  it  were, 
on  the  point  of  his  own  bayonet.  He  thought  of  almost  every 


THE   GREEN   VEDETTE.  73 

thing  in  that  first  hour  of  his  first  tread  of  an  outpost  beat.  He 
did  not  expect  the  officer  of  the  day,  —  he  did  not  know  what  an 
officer  of  the  day  was :  he  had  never  heard  of  such  a  character. 
But  the  dashing  major  of  the  Thirty-ninth  was  officer  of  the 
day  on  this  eventful  morning,  and  was  leisurely  making  the 
rounds,  attended  by  his  orderly,  when  he  encountered  this 
verdant  vedette,  who  heard  him  long  before  sight  served,  and 
was  all  on  the  qui  vive,  thinking  the  dreaded  guerillas  might  be 
stealing  in  to  annihilate  the  camp.  It  was  nothing  to  a  nervous 
sentry  that  the  officer  wore  a  blue  uniform :  was  not  that  one  of 
Moseby's  pet  tricks  ?  The  broad  red  sash,  crossing  the  breast 
from  right  shoulder  to  scabbard,  gave  no  hint  to  our  raw  recruit. 
He  should  have  announced  the  approach  of  the  officer  to  the 
picket-post  by,  "  Officer  of  the  day !  Turn  out  the  guard ! " 
But  in  this  instance  there  was  no  leaving  of  coffee  to  boil  over 
between  crackling  rails ;  no  hasty  scramble,  snatching  of  accou 
trements,  tumbling  for  guns,  and  falling  into  line  to  present 
arms  to  the  brigade  , outpost  supervisor. 

For  about  a  minute  our  hero  thought  he  had  behaved  like  a 
veteran ;  for  about  twenty  years  he  has  known  that  he  acted 
like  a  fool.  Ten  rods  away,  "  Halt !  who  goes  there  ?  "  bring 
ing  musket  to  a  "ready."  The  major  jogs  right  on  serenely. 
The  challenge  is  repeated  with  more  emphasis.  Still  the  officer 
impudently  aims  straight  for  the  alarmed  picket.  The  latter 
begins  to  suspect  that  after  all  the  officer  may  have  some  legiti 
mate  business  in  that  locality:  but  perish  the  thought!  he 
recalls  his  instructions.  In  desperation  he  again  commands 
"  Halt !  "  cocking  his  musket,  and  in  a  moment  more  he  fires. 
But  no!  the  major  does  halt,  and  thus  prevents  an  unpleasant 
denoument,  and  perhaps  a  court-martial.  "  Call  your  officer  !  " 
and  the  thoroughly  scared  private  is  glad  to  get  out  of  the 
scrape  by  calling  "  Sergeant  of  the  guard !  "  said  pompous  but 
thick-headed  dignitary  appearing  in  fear  to  respond  to  the  offi 
cial  reprimand  for  the  sentinel's  obtuseness  with,  "He  is  a  green 
hand,  and  don't  know  his  business."  Now,  in  spite  of  this 
ready  and  apt  military  explanation,  it  is  to  be  observed,  that  he 
of  the  chevrons  who  commanded  the  said  post  did  not  himself 


74  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

know  an  officer  of  the  day  from  a  provost-marshal ;  and  he  was 
obliged  to  turn  his  detail  into  a  debating  society,  in  order  to 
determine  how  to  receive  the  "grand  rounds,"  coming  to  plague 
him  about  midnight. 

Sometimes  an  officer  got  outgeneralled  on  the  picket-line  by 
a  private.  The  Fourteenth  furnished  an  officer,  and  the 
Thirty-ninth  Mass,  a  private,  to  illustrate  this.  The  captain 
was  officer  of  the  day,  and  the  broad  sash  and  other  inspiring 
influences  wrought  him  up  to  the  mood  of  a  strict  disciplinarian. 
In  making  his  morning  inspection,  he  found  one  of  the  pickets 
not  walking  his  beat.  The  reprimand  was  severe,  and  not 
couched  in  terms  known  to  a  pious  vocabulary.  The  private 
devised  a  method  of  balancing  the  account.  When  the  officer 
of  the  day  made  his  "  grand  rounds  "  at  midnight,  he  found  the 
aforesaid  picket  faithfully  walking  his  beat ;  but  the  beat  was 
on  a  small  island  in  the  midst  of  a  considerable  pond  of  surface 
water.  The  sentry  declared  it  was  the  identical  beat  upon 
which  he  was  stationed  in  the  morning.  With  an  accompani 
ment  of  a  tide  of  blasphemy  easily  heard  half  a  mile,  the  exas 
perated  officer  was  obliged  to  dismount,  wade  out  to  the 
isolated  picket,  and  receive  the  countersign. 

Throughout  the  war  the  picket-line  furnished  some  of  the 
most  dramatic  and  amusing  episodes  in  the  soldier's  life.  At 
Lock  21,  where  Rebels  were  stealthily  creeping  along  our 
front  just  across  the  river,  and  where  the  first  man  perished 
mysteriously  in  the  howling  storm  and  Stygian  night  black 
ness  ;  at  Edward's  Ferry  and  White's  Ford,  really  dangerous, 
and  where  coveys  of  ducks  on  the  Potomac  at  night  sounded 
like  Rebels  crossing  to  attack;  the  more  stern,  earnest,  and 
deadly  watch  and  guard  of  the  valley  campaign,  on  hill  and 
pike,  in  treacherous  copse,  and  by  winding  stream,  with  the 
stimulus  of  constant  and  imminent  danger,  —  these  exploits  will 
ever  thrill  the  veteran's  soul,  and  stir  the  sluggish  memory,  so 
long  as  a  boy  in  blue  remains  among  the  living  to  ruminate 
upon  the  Potomac  and  the  Shenandoah. 

There  is  another  page  of  picket  history  which  we  do  not  turn 
in  this  volume,  although  it  is  perhaps  the  most  romantic,  if  not 


YANK  AND  JOHNNY  DICKER.  75 

the  most  thrilling.  The  boys  of  the  Fourteenth  did  not  chance 
to  camp  in  intrenched  lines  for  months,  over  against  and  near 
to  the  enemy,  with  opposing  pickets  less  than  half  a  musket-shot 
apart,  and  where,  while  cannon  were  silent  and  the  great  hosts 
rested  in  a  practical  truce,  these  jolly  picket-guards  fraternized 
so  far  that  all  the  rules  of  cautionary  warfare  were  stretched  to 
their  utmost  limit,  and  there  was  a  great  deal  of  swapping  and 
promiscuous  dicker  between  "  Yank  "  and  "  Johnny."  For 
twenty  years  the  newspapers  have  teemed  with  stirring  and 
laughable  incidents  of  this  close,  foe-fraternal  relation ;  and  we 
may  presume  that  the  subject  is  yet  fruitful.  The  picketing  of 
the  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  of  a  sterner,  more  deadly  quality. 
We  leave  the  chronicles  of  the  pleasanter  sort  to  those  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  fight  a  Johnny  Reb  between  the 
lines,  hitting  him  with  a  bag  of  coffee,  and  receiving  the  return 
blow  from  a  plug  of  old  Virginia  tobacco. 


It  was  authoritatively  announced  that  the  regiment  was  to 
go  into  winter  quarters ;  and  the  tents  were  raised  upon  stock 
ade  and  board  walls,  and  put  into  comfortable  shape  for  the 
inclement  season.  Red  cedar  was  abundant  in  that  region,  and 
was  cleverly  utilized  for  tent-finishing ;  the  slender  poles  furnish 
ing  as  near  an  approach  to  spring-beds  as  the  soldier  can  hope 
to  make.  Cedar  was  presumed  to  be  a  remedy  for  body-lic,e, 
which  even  then  began  to  infest  the  clothing  of  the  men.  The 
utter  disgust  and  loathing  evinced  by  the  neatest  among  them, 
and  measurably  experienced  by  all,  were  natural.  A  philosophic 
attitude  toward  vermin,  which  is  one  of  the  shining  qualities 
of  the  veteran,  had  not  then  imbued  the  members  of  the  Four 
teenth.  No  matter  how  neat  a  soldier  kept  himself,  it  was  of 
no  avail.  He  must  suffer  for  the  filth  of  those  who  had  ten 
anted  his  picket-post,  or  guard,  bunk,  or  barrack  quarters  before 
him,  leaving  a  crawling  leaven  that  always  leavened  the  whole 
lump.  The  red-cedar  panacea  was  too  mild  a  remedy  for  the 
lice  epidemic,  and  it  ran  a  course  which  only  ended  when  white 
shirts  were  donned  after  the  Rebellion  had  collapsed. 


76  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  15th  of  November  the  regiment  was  marched  back  to 
Lock  21,  with  the  expectation  of  exchanging  the  old  smooth 
bores  for  the  modern  Springfield  or  Enfield  pattern  of  muskets; 
those  being  the  best  arms  in  the  service  during  the  Rebel- 
]ion.  Breech-loaders  were  entirely  unknown  for  infantry,  only 
some  of  the  cavalry  commands  having  breech-loading  car 
bines.  It  was  just  as  the  war  was  closing  that  breech-loading 
fire-arms  came  into  deserved  prominence.  When  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  only  the  flanking  companies  were  to  receive  the 
new  muskets  at  that  time,  there  ensued  such  a  flow  of  comment 
as  soldiers  can  indulge  in  on  occasion.  All  but  Companies  A 
and  G  felt,  when  marching  back  to  camp  with  the  ridiculed 
smooth-bores  still  on  their  shoulders,  much  like  the  king  of 
France,  who  marched  up  the  hill  and  then  marched  down  again. 

Sj^stematic  battalion  drilling  was  begun  at  Offutt's  Cross 
Roads,  and  the  regiment  was  settling  down  to  a  profitable  win 
ter's  work.  That  it  is  the  uncertain  which  always  occurs  was 
exemplified  in  the  occupation  of  Camp  Grover  by  the  Four 
teenth.  The  camp  was  brought  into  excellent  trim ;  the,  picket 
and  drill  duty  was  arduous,  but  not  really  severe ;  and  while 
there  was  considerable  sickness,  owing  to  so  complete  a  change 
of  life,  to  which  the  men  were  not  yet  inured,  —  two  men  dying 
on  the  night  of  December  9,  —  still  the  location  was  desirable, 
and  acclimation  would  speedily  have  done  its  essential  work. 

Saturday  night,  December  20,  the  regiment  received  orders 
to»be  ready  to  move  at  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning.  The 
brigade  was  to  occupy  a  strategic  position  farther  up  the  Poto 
mac,  commanding  important  fords  liable  to  be  threatened  by 
heavy  detachments  of  cavalry  from  the  army  of  northern  Vir 
ginia,  or  by  guerilla-bands,  which  did  some  damage  and  cre 
ated  a  thousand  times  as  much  alarm.  The  men  imagined 
that  it  was  a  dreadfully  sore  trial  to  be  ordered  away,  and  the 
usual  amount  of  ignorant  comment  and  criticism  was  indulged 
in.  It  was  a  safety-valve,  and  did  no  harm.  Then,  as  gener 
ally,  the  rank  and  file,  and  most  of  the  line-officers,  were  igno 
rant  of  even  the  immediate  destination  of  the  regiment.  It 
was  with  sincere  regret  that  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  filed  out 


CAPT.  IRA  BERRY,  JR.  CAPT  WM.  E.  BUNTEN. 


LIEUT.  E.  D.  HADLEY. 


LIEUT.  M.  M.  HOLMES.  LIEUT.  WM.  H.  BRYANT. 


COMPANY   H   OFFICERS'- 


A   MIDNIGHT  SCARE.  77 

of  Camp  Grover  on  that  cool  and  beautiful  Sabbath  morning 
in  December.  The  more  thoughtful  ones  were  pained,  in  view 
of  a  march  on  Sunday;  while  all  clung  so  tenaciously  to  the 
idea  of  home,  that  even  a  banked-up  tent  or  a  rude  stockade, 
when  dedicated  as  a  habitation,  became  invested  with  a  worth 
whose  loss  seemed  serious. 

That  day's  march  was  a  severe  test  of  the  regiment's  stamina 
and  powers  of  endurance,  and  the  ordeal  was  passed  quite 
creditably  to  the  command  as  a  whole.  The  march  was  to 
Poolesville,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles.  The  regiment  was 
burdened  beyond  all  reason  for  a  march,  and  the  six  wagons 
were  loaded  to  their  utmost  capacity.  Twenty  miles  between 
9.30  and  dark,  carrying  elephantine  knapsacks,  with  all  sorts 
of  possible  utensils  strung  to  their  belts,  was  a  record  not  to 
be  ashamed  of  for  the  men  of  a  green  regiment.  Footsore 
and  all  fagged  out,  the  men  marched,  staggered,  and  straggled 
into  the  pretty  village  of  Poolesville  that  Sunday  night.  No 
tents  were  pitched ;  the  men  taking  possession  of  churches, 
halls,  etc. 

Poolesville  was  lively  that  night,  as  may  be  seen  from  a 
perusal  of  one  of  the  special  articles  of  this  volume.  Sergt. 
Sturtevant  of  Company  G  had  an  experience  which  came  as 
near  making  his  hair  stand  on  end  as  he  desired  up  to  that 
period  in  his  experience.  Some  time  during  the  night  it  was 
reported  that  human  forms  were  seen  moving  about  the  out 
skirts  of  the  town  in  unpleasant  numbers.  The  sergeant  and 
two  men  —  Corpl.  Kehue  and  Private  Frost  —  were  ordered 
out  to  reconnoitre ;  and  soon  the  startling  discovery  was  made, 
that  these  obvious  enemies  were  mounted  men,  and  had  biv 
ouacked  within  half  a  mile  of  the  sleeping  Union  regiment. 
The  dismayed  sergeant  with  his  support  was  about  to  retreat, 
arouse  the  regiment,  and  save  it  if  possible  from  the  threatened 
disaster,  when  a  figure  was  observed  advancing  rapidly  toward 
them.  Approaching  near  enough,  he  was  halted,  and  was,  if 
possible,  more  astonished  than  the  sergeant  had  been  previously. 
To  the  challenge  he  responded  that  he  was  a  member  of  Scott's 
Nine  Hundred  Cavalry;  and  it  was  soon  explained  that  two 


78  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

companies  of  the  troop  had  just  arrived  from  down  the  river, 
were  now  bivouacked  in  the  near  field,  and  had  no  conception 
of  any  Union  troops  being  in  the  place.  The  alert  sergeant 
experienced  a  sort  of  revulsion  of  feeling,  and  midnight  deeds 
of  prowess  were  necessarily  postponed. 

The  next  forenoon  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Edward's  Ferry, 
four  miles,  as  orders  had  been  issued  for  a  thorough  system  of 
picketing  and  patrolling  the  river ;  the  former  to  be  done  by 
the  infantry,  the  latter  by  cavalry  squads.  Most  of  the  right 
wing  remained  at  Poolesville.  Another  scare  made  things 
lively  before  the  column  reached  the  ferry.  While  some  dis 
tance  away,  heavy  firing  was  heard ;  and  word  was  passed  along 
the  line,  that  a  conflict  was  imminent.  Reaching  the  bluff,  it 
was  reported  that  the  enemy  were  throwing  up  intrenchments 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  It  was  evident  that  the  main 
body  of  the  Johnnies  were  in  hiding,  as  only  one  or  two  scouts 
were  in  sight.  The  troops  were  hurried  up,  every  officer  who 
had  a  glass  anxiously  surveyed  the  situation,  and  a  general  plan 
of  attack  was  discussed.  The  position  was  approached  with 
great  caution,  and  the  men  wondered  how  many  would  be  likely 
to  get  hit  in  crossing  to  the  assault. 

After  a  long  delay,  it  was  decided  to  send  a  reconnoitring 
party  over  to  investigate.  The  forlorn  hope  was  generally 
commiserated,  and  little  hope  was  expressed  of  seeing  them 
again  alive.  Yet  they  did  return  unharmed,  and  reported  that 
the  dangerous  spade  had  been  doing  its  work  on  the  Rebel  side 
of  the  Potomac ;  but  the  fact  was,  that  two  colored  individuals 
had  come  down  to  the  shore  with  the  dead  body  of  a  friend, 
and  the  excavations  so  much  dreaded  were  strictly  confined  to 
legitimate  grave-digging.  The  first  shell  of  the  bombardment 
had  scattered  the  formidable  party  of  two,  they  unceremoniously 
dumping  the  corpse  on  the  ground  in  their  flight.  For  some 
thing  more  than  a  week  the  regiment  manned  the  picket-posts 
along  the  river;  the  season  being  delightful,  and  camping  in 
shelter-tents  quite  tolerable. 

The  headquarters  of  the  regiment  was  established  at  Edward's 
Ferry,  with  picket-posts  up  and  down  the  tow-path  of  the  canal. 


LIVELY  POOLESVILLE.  79 

It  was  supposed  to  be  hazardous  duty;  and  certainly  never  were 
troops  more  alert,  nor  was  there  ever  a  more  faithful  watch 
kept  upon  a  picket-line.  The  portion  of  the  regiment  on  duty 
at  the  ferry  was  not  located  there  long.  The  beginning  of  the 
new  year,  1863  found  the  Fourteenth  in  camp  at  Poolesville, 
the  picketing  arrangement  having  been  somewhat  modified. 
Squads  of  wood-choppers  were  detailed  ;  and  long  oak-stockade 
material  was  hauled  to  camp,  split  in  planks,  set  firmly  in  the 
ground,  and  on  top  were  pitched  the  A  tents.  Each  cabin  was 
covered  by  two  of  the  tents,  the  stockade  extending  in  a  con 
tinuous  line  the  length  of  a  company  street.  The  Poolesville 
camp  of  the  Fourteenth  is  well  represented  elsewhere.  The 
Thirty-ninth  Mass,  was  camped  near  by,  and  occupied  Sibley 
tents.  There  was  just  enough  of  rivalry  between  the  two  regi 
ments  to  relieve  any  possible  monotony;  and,  beyond  that,  things 
must  be  lively  anywhere  with  two  such  organizations  in  camp 
as  Scott's  Nine  Hundred  and  Sleeper's  Battery. 

The  great  rolling  plain  east  of  Poolesville  was  used  as  a 
parade-ground ;  and  frequent  were  the  magnificent  spectacles 
presented  of  sham  contests  between  the  cavalry  and  the  infantry, 
and  between  the  former  and  the  light  battery.  The  boys  will 
recall  the  exciting  scenes  of  Scott's  dare-devil  squadrons  riding 
down  at  full  gallop  on  the  waiting  battery  still  as  death,  the 
yells  of  the  cavalrymen,  and  the  flash  of  their  sabres,  urging 
their  horses  to  such  a  fury  of  onslaught  that  it  seemed  as 
though  they  must  sweep  away  guns,  caissons,  horses,  and  all. 
Not  an  order  was  given  in  the  battery,  nor  a  lanyard  pulled, 
until  the  attacking  party  had  almost  reached  the  muzzles,  when, 
with  a  terrific  roar  and  flash,  the  mock  combatants  were  hid  in 
smoke,  and  the  struggle  for  the  guns  began  in  close  conflict. 

Some  of  the  companies,  in  order  to  improve  their  culinary 
facilities,  built  ovens.  Capt.  Hodgdon  of  Company  D  was 
fortunate  enough  to  find  some  iron-arched  oven-tops,  and  with 
a  wagon  and  detail  fetched  them  into  camp.  Col.  Wilson  was 
much  interested  in  the  erection  of  the  improved  oven,  and 
intently  watched  the  proceeding.  The  work  not  going  on  just 
to  suit  him,  he  began  showing  the  correct  process,  and  presently 


80  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

threw  off  blouse  and  vest,  and  went  at  the  stone  trimming  and 
setting  himself.  In  the  familiar  skull-cap,  which  became  him 
about  as  well  as  a  plug  hat  would  a  marble  Venus,  he  presented 
any  thing  but  an  imposing  and  West-Point  appearance.  Ab 
sorbed  in  mud,  stone-work,  and  the  prospective  oven,  the 
colonel  of  the  Fourteenth  did  not  observe  the  approach  in  state 
of  Col.  Davis  of  the  Thirty-ninth  coming  to  pay  him  a  formal 
visit.  Being  made  aware  of  the  presence  of  an  officer  in  full- 
dress  uniform,  attended  by  an  orderly,  he  turned,  and  simply 
said,  "How  are  you,  colonel?  We're  building  an  oven:  walk 
up  to  my  quarters!"  The  formality  of  the  occasion  was  a  good 
deal  toned  down  by  the  democracy  of  official  shirt-sleeves. 

"While  a  portion  of  the  right  wing  occupied  the  Episcopal 
church,  previous  to  the  establishment  of  the  permanent  camp, 
several  amusing  incidents  occurred.  One  night  the  men  stole  a 
bee-hive,  and,  placing  it  over  a  hole  dug  in  the  ground,  ignited 
a  quantity  of  matches  to  suffocate  the  bees.  Having  succeeded, 
as  they  thought,  the  hive  was  smuggled  into  the  church,  when 
it  was  discovered  that  some  of  the  bees  were  still  in  fighting 
trim,  as  several  men  found  to  their  cost.  The  hive  was  hastily 
wrapped  in  the  first  blanket  that  came  to  hand,  and  put  out  of 
the  window ;  the  blanket  being  returned  to  its  place.  At  night, 
when  Capt.  Johnson  of  Company  B  stretched  himself  out  on 
that  blanket,  he  laid  his  head  directly  into  about  a  teacupful  of 
honey  which  had  drained  from  the  hive.  His  remarks  need 
not  be  repeated,  but  they  were  forcible  and  pointed. 

Chaplain  Rowe  was  invited  to  hold  services  in  the  church  on 
Sunday,  and  some  of  the  citizens  were  invited  to  attend.  One 
old  lady  refused,  saying,  "  Why,  you  can't  hold  services  in  our 
church."  She  was  asked,  "  Why  not  ?  "  and  replied,  "  Because 
it  is  Episcopal,  and  the  canons  of  the  church  don't  permit  it."  — 
"Well,"  said  the  officer  to  whom  she  spoke,  "  I  can't  say  about 
the  canons  of  the  church ;  but  I  know  the  cannons  of  the  army 
will.  Services  will  commence  at  10.30  sharp."  Arid  they 
did.  A  choir  was  formed,  and  led  by  G.  W.  Hodgdon,  leader 
of  the  regimental  band.  The  Episcopal  clergyman  opened  the 
services  with  prayer,  making  riot  the  slightest  allusion  to  na- 


MOTHER'S  PANTRY.  81 

tional  affairs ;  and  Chaplain  Rowe  preached  a  good  sermon, 
"proclaiming  liberty  throughout  the  land  to  all  the  inhabitants 
thereof." 

BOXES    FROM    HOME. 

As  soon  as  it  was  tolerably  certain  that  a  regiment  had  set 
tled  down  in  winter  quarters,  a  wide-spread  epidemic  could  be 
safely  predicted.  There  was  nothing  chronic%  in  the  affliction, 

—  that  was  the  worst  of  it,  —  but  it  was  intensely  acute,  as 
were  some  of  the  consequences  to  the  victims.     We  do  not  go 
to  the  surgeon,  but  to  the  teamster,  for  a  diagnosis  of  the  malady  ; 
for  to  the  lord  of  the  mules  it  was  experimentally  a  malady. 
It  was  the  epidemic  of  "boxes."     Every  regiment  accessible  to 
the  base  of  supplies  showed  a  bad  breaking-out.     New  regi 
ments  manifested  a  malignant  type,  and  those  within  a  mule's 
journey  of  Washington  were  turned  into  a  genuine  hospital  of 

—  "  boxes."     Shoe-boxes,  soap-boxes,  starch-boxes,  clothes-pin 
boxes,  even  dry-goods  boxes,  thronged  along  from  every  quar 
ter  in  a  tumultuous,  tumbling  procession.     Occasionally  it  was 
a  barrel,  often  a  cask ;  but  they  were  all  "  boxes."     Boxes  tied, 
nailed,  screwed,  strapped,  hinged,  withed,  and  not  fastened  at 
all. 

The  first  recipient  of  a  box  was  a  prince  ;  the  next  half- 
dozen  constituted  a  select  aristocracy ;  after  that,  it  was  pure 
democracy,  with  a  small,  unhappy  coterie  which  had  no  home, 
no  friends,  to  send  its  members  a  box.  The  man  who  did  not 
get  a  box  from  home  was  a  singular  and  much-pitied  individual. 
But  generally  such  a  one  was,  in  a  real  sense,  admitted  to  the 
cheer  of  other  homes,  whose  hearthstones  were  broad  enough 
for  generous  hospitality;  and  the  "boys"  were  so  appreciative 
of  that  strange,  tenacious  community  of  interest  binding  men 
of  a  common  aim  in  a  common  privation  and  danger,  that  they 
opened  their  hearts,  their  hands,  and  their  boxes  to  those  who 
had  no  Northern  pantries  and  sweetmeat-closets  so  full  and  so 
crowded  open  by  zeal  and  love  that  they  overflowed  to  South 
ern  camp  and  hospital. 

The  coveted  boxes  were  generally  expected,  being  heralded 


82  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

by  letter ;  but  were  often  a  complete  surprise.  In  the  former 
case  the  teamster  was  besieged  and  interviewed  every  time  he 
showed  his  head  in  camp :  and  after  he  had  been  examined  and 
cross-examined  for  a  week  or  even  a  fortnight  by  the  anxious 
comrade,  whose  precious  box  had  been  whirled  into  some  tan 
talizing  eddy  of  detention  in  the  vast  deluge  of  quartermasters' 
stores  rushing  to  every  military  department  and  army  corps, 
said  teamster  was  known  to  use  a  good  deal  of  language  for 
which  he  ought  to  have  visited  the  chaplain ;  and,  had  his 
imprecations  been  fulfilled,  they  would  have  very  nearly  filled 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  with  the  boxes  that  did  and  didn't  arrive. 

But  the  teamster  occasionally  got  even  with  the  importunate 
expectants,  and  sweet  was  his  revenge.  When  an  irascible 
little  warrior  had  waited  three  weeks  for  his  box,  had  thumbed 
the  letter  announcing  its  departure  from  home  into  tatters,  had 
worked  himself  into  a  fever  of  anxiety,  and  had  desperately 
prophesied  twenty  times  a  day  that  every  thing  in  the  box  was 
spoiled,  and,  if  it  ever  did  arrive,  it  would  be  worthless,  then  it 
happened,  in  more  than  one  instance,  that  just  as  the  victim  of 
the  box-fever  was  marching  out  of  camp  for  twenty-four  hours' 
picket-duty,  or  on  a  more  extended  expedition,  the  harried 
driver  would  announce,  in  sweetest  modulations,  "  There  is  a 
box  come  for  you."  What  was  previous  pain  was  subsequent 
torment.  The  twenty-four  hours  were  considerably  more  than 
a  week  in  getting  out  of  sight ;  and  the  anxious  recipient  ate  up 
at  least  a  dozen  boxes  in  anticipation,  and  vowed  terrible  venge 
ance  on  any  man  in  the  regiment  who  should  meddle  with 
that  box.  When  he  did  march  back  to  camp,  he  spent  two  per 
spiring  hours  getting  into  the  box ;  for  the  folks  at  home  had 
built  it  after  the  pattern  of  a  burglar-proof  safe,  fitted  to  run 
the  gantlet  of  all  hungry  Rebeldom :  and  he  had  no  hatchet, 
and  couldn't  borrow  one,  although  there  were  a  dozen  about 
only  yesterday. 

It  was  safe  to  presume  that  no  man  was  fit  for  duty  who  had 
an  attack  of  the  box.  He  talked  box,  ate  box,  fixed  his  box  in 
twenty  different  locations  ;  and  his  every  look  was  a  pine  cube 
packed  with  goodies.  If  anybody  imagines  that  this  conduct 


EPIDEMIC   OF  BOXES.  83 

borders  on  the  puerile,  let  him  enlist  for  three  years,  build  his 
winter  stockade  in  Virginia  mud,  and  feel  reminded  everj^  few 
hours  that  the  pressure  of  a  Rebel  bullet  is  much  more  immi 
nent  than  the  pressure  of  mother's  hand  again ;  that  the  caress 
of  a  screeching  shell  is  likely  to  greet  him  sooner  than  the  kiss 
of  his  wife  and  the  exquisite  clasp  of  his  child's  arms,  —  then,  if 
he  has  the  heart  of  a  man,  he  will  cease  to  wonder  at  the  des 
perate,  childish  eagerness  with  which  our  volunteer  soldiers 
waited  for  and  welcomed  a  box  from  home. 

If  any  venture,  small  in  bulk  and  trivial  compared  with  the 
great  events  among  which  it  nestled,  was  ever  invested  with  so 
much  of  consequence  —  excepting,  always,  that  initial  "epi 
sode  "  of  the  generations,  the  family  baby  —  as  the  soldier's 
box ;  if  there  was  ever  so  much  compressed  worry-yeast  buried 
in  such  a  limited  measure  of  patriotic  meal  as  in  the  subject  we 
consider,  —  then  no  Congressional  investigating  committee  has 
yet  discovered  it.  We  imagine  the  fond  assiduity,  the  sweet 
self-denial,  the  glad  mixture  of  family  love  and  a  broad  patriot 
ism,  which  crystallized  about  that  box  as  it  was  being  filled  in 
the  far-away  New-England  home.  The  best  sentiments  of  the 
grandest  nation  on  the  earth  twined  themselves,  in  the  grace  of 
love,  into  that  little  four-square  receptacle,  built  in  some  in 
stances  from  pine-tree  or  hemlock  grown  on  the  native  hills  of 
the  soldier-boy,  and  which  he  had  blazed,  perchance,  in  earlier 
years.  In  these  delicacies,  so  deftly  tucked  away  as  to  occupy 
every  available  inch  of  space,  were  incarnated  a  devotion  as 
lofty  as  that  of  the  Spartan  mothers ;  an  affection  whose  tender 
ness  of  deed  was  the  truest  expression  of  the  finest  age  of 
genuine  humanity  ;  and  we  may  suggest,  without  presumption 
or  overstatement,  that  those  impulses  which  centred  in  the  more 
than  three  hundred  thousand  boxes  sent  from  Northern  homes 
during  the  war  to  individual  loved  ones  in  the  army,  were  the 
same  for  love,  heroism,  and  loyalty,  which,  expanded  into  the 
majesty  of  an  irresistible  tidal  wave,  gathered  up  the  power  of 
the  homes  of  a  great  people,  and  buried  the  Rebellion  hope 
lessly.  In  another  figure  it  may  be  said  that  the  black  fortress 
of  Secession  was  not  only  breached,  but  levelled,  under  the 
bombardment  of — boxes. 


84  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

There  was  little  inclination  or  opportunity  for  insubordination 
or  discouragement  in  a  regiment  through  the  weary  months  of 
winter  quarters,  rain,  mud,  or  a  masterly  inactivity,  when  every 
incoming  baggage-train  brought  from  ten  to  twenty  boxes  from 
those  who  loved  the  cause  even  as  much  as  the  never-forgotten 
husbands,  sons,  or  brothers  who  fought  and  might  have  to  die 
for  it. 

And  the  packing  of  that  box.  Friends  came  in  with  their 
little  remembrances.  For  months  the  precious  store  had  been 
gathering,  and  much  was  the  study  over  the  tender  words 
which  should  accompany  the  offerings.  Things  useful,  and  as 
ornamental  as  the  circumstances  of  a  soldier's  life  would  justify ; 
articles  far  more  valuable  to  the  man  in  the  moon  than  to  a  boy 
in  blue  ;  boots,  mittens,  socks,  havelocks,  (who  ever  saw  a  have- 
lock  south  of  the  Potomac?)  shirts,  drawers,  housewives,  diaries, 
pins,  needles,  buttons,  —  in  fact,  a  whole  Yankee-notion  store  in 
epitome  went  into  that  box. 

The  society  for  sending  a  red-flannel  shirt  and  a  fine-tooth 
comb  to  every  African  baby,  or  the  English  association  for  pro 
viding  the  inhabitants  of  the  Fiji  Islands  with  plug  hats  and 
high-top  boots,  were  eminent  for  sagacity  in  comparison  with 
some  of  the  organizers  of  boxes  for  friends  in  the  army.  A 
dozen  rich  mince-pies,  a  peck  of  doughnuts,  and  two  gallons  of 
strong  pickles,  always  put  to  shame  any  malaria  or  noisome 
water,  in  their  power  to  hopelessly  demoralize  a  poor  fellow  just 
out  of  hospital,  half  cured  of  dysentery,  and  with  an  appetite 
ready  to  tackle  his  father's  grindstone  if  he  only  knew  that  it 
was  direct  from  home.  Let  us  recall  the  pastry,  the  sweets,  the 
tarts,  concentrated  essence  of  all  niceties  stowed  away  in  that 
box.  A  boot-leg  protected  a  jelly-jar,  pickles  were  padded  with 
socks,  while  each  mitten  was  plump  with  choice  confections. 
The  whole  arrangement  was  planned  with  a  view  to  constant 
surprises,  as  the  eager  subject  of  this  bounty,  unprecedented 
in  all  the  histories  of  campaigns,  disembowelled  his  goose  of 
goodies,  —  a  well-stuffed  bird,  that  came  near  to  laying  golden 
eggs.  Perhaps  the  box  wrought  as  good  results  where  it  was 
filled  as  where  it  was  emptied.  Certainly  the  hands  were 


A    TENT  BANQUET.  85 

readier  for  the  doing,  and  the  hearts  were  larger  for  the  giv 
ing. 

But  come  to  us  in  our  stockades  on  the  Potomac,  the  Rappa- 
hannock,  the  inlets  of  the  coast-line,  or  even  to  the  more  open 
tents  on  the  bayous  of  Louisiana.  Especially  on  the  northern 
belt  of  belligerent  ground,  in  midwinter,  we  shall  be  found 
hovering  about  a  small  camp-stove  in  one  of  the  cabins  of  a 
continuous  line  of  stockades,  covered  by  two  A  tents  joined. 
One  of  the  eight  inmates  has  received  a  box  from  home,  another 
has  just  emptied  one,  while  a  third  is  dwelling  in  the  happy 
realm  of  anticipation.  The  hero  of  the  hour  begins  his  explora 
tions  :  and  as  reminder,  memento,  and  token  from  those  whom 
he  at  times  despairs  of  seeing  again  on  earth  appear  one  by  one, 
labelled  so  tenderly,  his  comrades  suddenly  busy  themselves  over 
their  bunks,  guns,  or  accoutrements;  and  they  don't  see  his 
tears,  for  if  they  did  their  own  eyes  would  be  dim.  He  gladly 
exhibits  the  articles  of  clothing  and  some  of  his  trinkets,  but 
the  prudent  Yankee  never  exposes  to  his  comrades  all  there  is 
in  that  box.  He  is  doubtless  a  generous  fellow;  but,  while 
every  inmate  of  that  tent  gets  many  a  relish  for  slab  bacon  and 
hard  bread  eaten  during  the  week  or  fortnight  of  delicacies  from 
that  rare  store,  still  there  are  choice  depths  in  that  box  which 
no  stranger  and  hardly  the  bunk-chum  may  fathom,  and  whose 
treasures  are  too  precious  to  be  shared,  save  —  were  it  possible 
—  with  one  whose  touch  was  felt  in  every  apple  or  slice  of  cake  ; 
and  when  he  puts  that  box-cover  on  his  knees,  and  spreads  the 
table  of  a  temporary  prince,  he  sups  with  those  who,  a  thousand 
miles  away,  keep  his  plate  and  chair  waiting  about  the  family 
board. 

In  these  later  days,  and  amid  prosaic  routine  or  superficial 
enjoyments,  when  the  comforts  and  even  luxuries  of  life  can  be 
obtained  with  little  exertion  and  less  emotion,  such  sensitive 
tenderness  and  exquisite  sentiment  as  is  here  wreathed  about 
trivialities  may  appear  strained  and  wholly  artificial.  No  soldier 
of  the  Rebellion,  however,  will  question  the  faithfulness  of  the 
picture.  The  great  war  touched  chords  which  lesser  strokes 
would  have  left  smothered  forever,  and  developed  an  inner  life 


86  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

of  devotion  to  home,  and  affection  for  loved  ones,  which  all  the 
common-places  of  peaceful  industry  and  an  unruffled  social  life 
could  never  rouse. 

But  our  box  has  many  sides ;  and  it  is  impossible,  with  due 
regard  for  a  truthful  picture,  to  invest  all  of  this  multitude  of 
boxes  with  such  an  ornate  drapery  of  sentiment  as  may  justly 
ornament  the  actual  cases  referred  to.  As  there  was  not,  in  the 
enlistment  or  service  of  some  men,  one  elevating  thought  or 
ennobling  impulse ;  so  you  might  have  searched  every  incident 
and  act  in  their  soldier-life  without  finding  any  thing  which 
they  would  hallow,  or  the  observer  could  eulogize.  One  jovial, 
heedless  fellow  opened  his  box,  and  sent  the  carefully  prepared 
goodies  flying  among  his  too  willing  comrades  as  though  the 
precious  consignment  was  but  a  magazine  of  pyrotechnics  which 
it  was  his  cheerful  duty  to  light  off.  For  forty-eight  hours 
rations  were  spurned  with  contempt,  and  the  palate  was  toned 
up  to  an  epicurean  level.  But  the  inevitable  tumble  to  army 
fare  again,  brought  a  compensation  which  made  the  actual 
benefit  of  the  delicious  intrusion  a  matter  of  doubt. 

Another  recipient  took  his  box  and  all  the  adjuncts  as  a 
matter  of  course.  There  was  nothing  unusual  about  a  box  :  it 
ought  to  come ;  and  it  would  be  very  strange  if  the  folks  at 
home,  who  slept  in  a  bed  every  night,  had  a  clean  shirt  once  a 
week,  and  ate  bread  and  butter  every  day,  did  not  send  along 
something  to  make  a  fellow  comfortable. 

A  third  hungry  champion  of  an  indivisible  Union,  enlarged, 
expanded  the  principles  of  the  last-named  appreciative  hero ; 
and  he  went  at  his  box  much  as  a  hog  goes  to  his  trough.  He 
tackled  that  box,  he  invested  it,  besieged  it,  and,  before  he  could 
be  induced  to  quit,  carried  every  redoubt  and  bastion.  He  ate 
up  every  thing  in  it  that  could  be  eaten,  as  soon  as  it  could  be 
crowded  into  his  stomach,  and  then  diversified  the  monotony  of 
his  after-existence  by  taking  his  home-made,  home-blessed  mit 
tens,  socks,  shirts,  handkerchiefs,  and  every  thing  wearable,  and 
swapping  them  for  sutler's  checks,  or  trading  them  for  hoe-cake 
or  a  chicken  with  some  of  the  enterprising  darkies  hanging  like 
a  cloud  on  the  outskirts  of  the  camp.  It  would  be  difficult  to 


THE   TORMENT  OF  MEANNESS.  87 

select  a  better  criterion  of  the  man,  in  what  are  often  counted 
as  the  trivial  elements  of  character,  than  the  box  under  con 
sideration.  The  generous,  the  profligate,  the  stolid,  and  the 
selfish  soldier,  —  all  received  their  boxes ;  and  their  names  on 
the  covers  were  not  plainer  of  discernment  than  the  analysis  of 
their  inner  selves  which  they  inscribed  in  tell-tale  characters  all 
over  those  interesting  boxes. 

To  some  of  the  men  a  box  really  seemed  a  source  of  unend 
ing  torment.  They  never  appeared  to  take  a  moment's  comfort 
with  the  delectations  sent  them.  They  were  evidently  in  great 
dread  of  the  sin  of  covetousness  on  the  part  of  their  comrades. 
They  were  afraid  they  would  have  to  give  away  a  bite  of  some 
delicacy,  and  every  such  morsel  actually  extorted  came  like  a 
tooth  from  a  sound  jaw.  Such  a  one  always  managed  to  eat 
alone  while  the  miserly  hoarded  contents  lasted,  and  he  would 
make  a  small  box  last  ten  times  as  long  as  the  ordinary  soldier 
would  a  big  one.  He  isolated  himself,  contrived  to  get  his 
rations  when  his  tent-mates  were  out :  he  never  allowed  himself 
a  generous  taste  of  his  own  good  things,  but  endeavored  to 
extend  them,  like  his  own  enlistment,  "  for  three  years,  or  dur 
ing  the  war."  He  looked  mean,  and  he  must  have  felt  mean, 
whenever  he  approached  that  box,  which  he  secured  by  every 
imaginable  device ;  and  still  he  carried  a  burden  heavier  than 
musket,  accoutrements,  and  rations  combined,  whenever  he  left 
camp  on  duty :  he  was  anxious  for  his  box,  he  worried  about 
that  box ;  and  he  was  only  relieved  from  misery  when  he  had 
reluctantly  swallowed  the  last  ounce  of  butter,  the  final  bit  of 
cheese,  or  the  bottom  spoonful  of  honey.  That  which  so  en 
nobled  the  many,  both  in  the  sending  and  the  receiving ;  which 
voiced  the  freest  generosity  and  proclaimed  the  prodigal  re 
sources  of  the  land  for  whose  integrity  he  fought  —  all  this,  by 
a  patent  and  painful  contrast,  only  served  to  belittle  such  a  man 
until  he  shrank  so  small  among  his  fellows  that  one  of  his  own 
well-guarded  fruit-jars  seemed  of  ample  dimensions  in  which  to 
preserve  him  as  an  abiding  curiosity,  —  a  rare  evolution  of  the 
war.  A  curiosity,  for  he  was  neither  a  representative  nor  a 
common  character.  There  were  but  few  like  him  in  any  com- 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

pany,  and  in  some  companies  possibly  there  were  none.  But 
he  was  to  be  found  in  every  battalion,  more  or  less,  and  helped 
to  round  out  the  multifarious  phases  of  humanity  aggregated, 
and  to  some  extent  harmonized,  in  a  volunteer  regiment.  He 
must  have  been  the  man  who  used,  at  home,  to  stop  his  clock 
at  night  so  that  it  would  not  wear  out  so  fast,  —  said  they 
"  didn't  want  to  know  the  time  nights,  and  it  would  save  the 
works." 

Among  all  the  turmoils  and  consternations  incident  to  a  sud 
den  and  unexpected  move,  the  box  was  no  insignificant  element 
in  the  general  perplexity.  When  a  regiment  has  settled  itself 
in  winter  quarters,  has  built  and  furnished  its  stockades,  and  in 
a  thousand  neat  and  soldierly  ways  put  the  stamp  of  cosiness 
and  homeliness  upon  its  rude  but  really  comfortable  tent-roofed 
cabins,  it  is  hard  indeed  to  have  the  orderly  poke  his  head 
inside  the  doors  after  nine  o'clock  at  night,  and  simply  an 
nounce,  "  Be  ready  to  march  to-morrow  morning  at  nine 
o'clock."  It  was  enough.  First,  silence  ;  then  a  storm  of  in 
dignation,  followed  soon  by  a  roaring  tide  of  jollity ;  for  the 
reserve  thought  and  force  of  the  Union  volunteers  were  always 
exercised  to  make  the  best  of  all  adverse  situations.  In  ten 
minutes  the  entire  camp  was  ablaze  with  bonfires ;  being  fed 
with  floors,  uncouth  tables,  all  sorts  of  improvised  camp-furni 
ture  and  fixtures,  and  indeed  by  every  available  bit  of  wood. 
Articles  which  half  an  hour  earlier  were  hoarded  with  jealous 
care  are  now  tossed  to  the  flames  with  glee  and  shouts. 

An  army  about  to  break  camp  after  a  long  stay  presents, 
especially  at  night,  a  spectacle  weird  and  grand.  A  tumult  of 
most  orderly  confusion  surges  from  headquarters  to  wagon-park 
and  mule-corral.  There  is  a  general  tearing  up  and  stowing  of 
all  that  is  to  go,  and  a  general  destruction  of  all  that  must  be 
left  behind.  Friendly  negroes  in  the  vicinity  "  tote  "  off  mis 
cellaneous  property  to  their  full  gorging :  sly  importunings  and 
slyer  trades  are  negotiated  with  avaricious  teamsters  in  order  to 
assure  the  transportation  of  cherished  adjuncts  of  camp-life. 
But,  even  when  the  Fourteenth  had  six  wagons  all  to  itself, 
there  was  a  limit  to  transportation  capacities.  What  was  to 


THE   TOUCHSTONE  BOX.  89 

become  of  the  box?  Our  narrow-gauge  comrade  had  now 
reached  the  acme  of  his  suffering,  and  he  was  surrounded  by 
the  culminating  circumstances  of  his  box  torment.  No  teamster 
would  look  at  his  precious  box,  for  he  never  dreamed  of  the 
liberality  of  a  twenty-five-cent  bribe ;  and,  when  he  did  realize 
the  Archimedean  idea  of  a  proper  leverage,  it  was  too  late  to 
get  it  under  that  box. 

Throughout  the  camp  there  is  a  general  feasting;  and  a  jolly 
great  repast  it  is,  segregated  banqueters  in  every  mess  prepar 
ing  and  consuming  every  nice  tidbit  which  cannot  be  carried. 
The  hum  of  busy  preparation;  the  running  to  and  fro;  the 
crash  of  deserted  and  doomed  edifices ;  the  song,  the  shout,  the 
merry  challenge,  —  all  mingled  in  a  welling  though  not  bois 
terous  uproar,  forming  a  unique  and  fitting  orchestral  accom 
paniment  to  that  night  banquet  of  December  20,  1862,  at 
Offutt's  Cross  Roads.  It  was  a  scene  never  to  be  obliterated 
from  the  picture-gallery  of  the  veteran's  memory.  Yet  our 
anxious  friend  is  all  out  of  place,  and  out  of  joint  mentally. 
His  box  is  the  biggest  sort  of  an  elephant  on  his  hands.  He  at 
length  plunges  into  it,  and  for  two  hours  eats  all  he  can ;  but 
his  stomach  plays  him  a  mean  trick,  and  soon  refuses  to  act  as 
a  general  provision  warehouse.  He  cautiously  doles  out  some 
of  the  commonest  articles  to  his  near  comrades,  who,  realizing 
the  situation,  are  not  demonstrative  at  his  generosity.  But  the 
time  for  departure  nears  rapidly  ;  and  in  sheer  desperation  he 
throws  open  to  all  about  him  his  precious  box,  after  carefully 
cramming  his  knapsack  and  haversack  beyond  any  intention  of 
the  maker.  Not  five  miles  does  he  proceed  on  the  march,  before 
he  utterly  breaks  clown  under  his  extra  load ;  and  he  has  the 
satisfaction  of  getting  thoroughly  fagged  out  in  order  to  supply 
a  lunch  at  a  wayside  halt  for  a  dozen  of  his  companions  in  line. 
However,  through  all  that  winter  in  Poolesville,  he  never  forgot 
his  unparalleled  hospitality,  nor  did  he  permit  the  recipients  to 
forget  it,  and  eagerly  did  he  strive  to  build  upon  it  a  reputation 
for  liberality ;  but  they  remembered  what  he  ignored,  that  every 
mouthful  he  dispensed  was  extorted  by  an  inevitable  necessity. 
His  one  enforced  beneficence  could  not  save  him. 


0  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

"  The  mouse  that  always  trusts  to  one  poor  hole 
Can  never  be  a  mouse  of  any  soul." 

In  this  reference  to  boxes  from  home,  no  mention  is  made  of 
the  magnificent  charity  and  noble  Christian  philanthropy  touch 
ing  the  suffering  soldiers  at  every  point,  so  constantly  and  effi 
ciently,  by  the  boxes  coming  through  the  sanitary  and  Christian 
commissions,  as  they  are  fittingly  recognized  under  another  title. 


January  6,  1863,  it  was  ascertained  that  acting  brigadier-gen 
eral,  Col.  P.  S.  Davis  of  the  Thirty-ninth  Mass.,  was  outranked 
by  Col.  Jewett  of  the  Tenth  Vt. ;  and  the  latter  assumed  com 
mand  of  the  brigade.  Col.  Jewett  was  a  genial,  popular  officer ; 
and  the  change  was  welcomed.  Thursday,  the  8th,  was  a 
holiday  in  the  Fourteenth;  for  the  greenbacks  fell  gently  as 
snow-flakes,  and  the  paymaster  was  the  most  popular  official  in 
the  country.  It  was  the  first  pay-day ;  and  there  were  lively, 
jolly  times  in  Poolesville  for  a  few  days.  Sutler  Farr  held  an 
"  opening,"  and  opened  almost  every  thing  in  the  edible  line 
that  his  tent  contained.  Then  the  sutler-checks  came  in  to 
plague  their  lavish  purchasers,  and  great  was  the  astonishment 
among  those  who  had  kept  no  account  of  the  dollars'  worth 
they  had  ordered  the  sutler  to  deduct  from  their  monthly  pay. 

On  the  13th  and  14th  of  January  there  seemed  to  be  a  con 
junction  of  bounty-jumpers'  planets  over  Poolesville.  They  had 
waited  to  draw  their  first  pay ;  they  had  seen  enough  of  the 
Fourteenth ;  had  more  than  used  up  their  stock  of  patriotism, 
and  —  they  deserted.  Five  men  from  E,  H,  and  K ;  while  C,  in 
order  to  stand  unrivalled,  sent  five  from  itself,  all  Frenchmen : 
they  probably  went  home  to  get  ready  for  Sedan. 

For  the  next  six  weeks  camp-life  at  Poolesville  moved  on  in 
a  monotonous  routine  of  drilling,  camp-guard,  picket-duty,  with 
daily  details  for  wood-chopping.  The  men  were  not  really  over 
worked;  but  the  exposure  was  severe,  and  its  results  were  sadly 
apparent.  The  Fourteenth  suffered  more  than  the  Thirty-ninth, 


SPARKS  AND  POWDER.  91 

camped  near  by,  but  on  higher  ground.  There  was  a  good  deal 
of  sickness  and  several  deaths.  The  weeding-out  process  began, 
the  weaker  ones  going  to  hospital  or  receiving  discharges. 
Each  company  had1  its  impostors,  who  began  a  systematic 
"  playing  off "  in  order  to  get  home.  There  were  many  cases 
of  measles,  most  of  them  taking  a  favorable  turn.  Happily, 
nearly  all  of  the  private  medicine-chests  were  exhausted ;  the 
self-doctoring  patients  taking  homoeopathic  remedies  in  allo 
pathic  doses.  Battalion  drills  were  in  order  every  week-day, 
with  company  drills  in  the  morning  and  dress-parade  at  night. 

March  2  the  regiment  began  the  exercise  of  firing,  drawing 
its  first  blank  cartridges  that  day.  At  this  season  the  men 
were  making  rapid  progress  and  showing  creditable  proficiency 
in  drill,  both  in  movement  and  manual.  Some  of  the  companies 
lacked  thoroughness  of  training,  and  did  not  improve  so  rapidly 
as  was  necessary  to  high  excellence  in  the  exercises  with  the 
musket,  and  to  perfection  in  marching ;  but  the  men  only  re 
quired  intelligent  and  appreciative  handling  for  the  attainment 
of  a  rank  above  the  average  of  the  crack  regiments  in  the  vol 
unteer  forces. 

There  occurred  at  this  time,  March  9,  one  of  those  incidents 
which,  in  such  a  body  of  men,  acts  very  much  as  a  firebrand 
may  in  a  powder  magazine.  It  showed,  that,  under  certain  con 
ditions,  a  military  camp  is  a  very  inflammable  and  dangerous 
establishment.  Members  of  the  regiment  had  been  in  the  habit 
of  "  drawing  "  straw  for  camp-purposes  from  surrounding  farm- 
stacks,  and  doubtless  the  practice  had  considerably  exasperated 
the  constant  losers.  On  the  day  in  question,  a  musician  of 
Company  K,  John  L.  Smith,  went  outside  the  lines  to  replenish 
his  supply  of  straw.  He  returned  with  one  bullet-hole  through 
his  hand,  and  another  in  the  leg,  reporting  that  he  had  been 
fired  upon  by  some  unknown  enemy  while  coming  into  camp 
with  his  straw.  Within  ten  minutes,  more  than  that  number  of 
inflammatory  and  contradictory  rumors  were  galloping  through 
the  company  streets  ;  and  each  retailer  felt  bound  to  embellish 
his  story  sufficiently  to  gain  it  a  hearing.  It  was  confidently 
asserted  and  generally  believed  that  the  act  was  that  of  a  Rebel 


92  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

% 

bushwhacker,  who  shot  the  musician  because  he  was  a  Union 
soldier.  There  seemed  to  be  no  doubt  that  the  owner  of  the 
plundered  straw  had  something  to  do  with  the  attempted  assas 
sination.  Excitement  grew  to  anger,  and  anger  changed  to 
fury.  The  men  gathered  in  groups,  and  it  was  understood  that 
plans  of  revenge  were  formed.  It  was  evident  that  some  rash 
work  was  contemplated,  and  the  colonel  doubled  the  guards. 
As  night  came  on,  special  precautions  were  taken,  and  peremp 
tory  orders  issued  to  shoot  every  man  who  attempted  to  forcibly 
cross  the  line.  The  officers  were  so  firm,  that  the  violent  ele 
ment  was  overawed ;  and,  while  nearly  one-half  of  the  Four 
teenth  assembled  about  eight  o'clock,  the  demonstration  was 
utterly  quelled,  as  no  venturesome  leader  appeared  to  take  the 
risk  of  leading  and  directing  the  sortie. 

The  retaliatory  programme  included  the  burning  of  every 
building  of  the  offending  owner  of  the  straw,  and  it  is  quite 
possible  that  the  enterprise  might  have  gone  farther  and  been 
more  disastrous.  Indeed,  it  afterward  transpired  that  an  or 
ganized  plan  had  been  laid  to  make  a  raid  on  Poolesville  ;  and, 
had  the  project  been  carried  out,  a  foul  stain  must  have  sullied 
the  fame  of  the  Fourteenth,  which  never  in  the  whole  course 
of  its  history  was  disgraced  by  any  conspicuous  act  of  lawless 
ness.  The  sally  mentioned  was  frustrated  in  this  wise :  when 
the  rush  was  made  after  dark,  one  of  the  guards  fired  his  piece, 
which  called  out  the  colonel ;  and  the  facts  were  reported  to 
him.  He  at  once  ordered  every  orderly-sergeant  to  fall  his  men 
in  for  roll-call.  All  who  could,  of  those  outside,  rushed  back 
to  answer  to  their  names.  Officious  friends  responded  for 
many  of  the  absentees ;  and  so  anxious  were  they  that  all  should 
be  accounted  for,  that,  when  the  name  of  a  man  who  had  been 
dead  two  months  was  called  by  mistake,  "  here  !  "  was  promptly 
returned  from  the  ranks.  The  prompt  vigilance  of  Col.  Wilson 
saved  the  regiment  from  a  gross  act  of  outlawry.  Every  effort 
was  made  to  discover  the  one  who  did  the  shooting,  but  not 
even  threatened  hanging  succeeded  in  disclosing  the  offender. 

It  was  a  long  winter  at  Poolesville,  much  longer  than  any 
subsequent  winter  could  have  seemed  to  the  regiment  under 


THE    WAR  AND  POLITICS.  93 

similar  circumstances.  It  was  seen  that  the  war  was  likely  to 
continue  beyond  all  of  the  expectations  entertained  when  the 
regiment  entered  the  service.  There  was  a  general  dissatisfac 
tion  with  the  management  of  the  armies,  a  fact  not  less  potent 
because  the  prevalent  opinion  was  not  an  intelligent  one. 
Among  soldiers  a  rumor  is  often  accepted  as  a  fact,  and  a  preju 
dice  does  duty  for  a  correct  judgment.  In  this  respect  a  sol 
dier  differs  from  the  generality  of  mankind  only  in  this,  that 
his  sources  of  information  are  more  limited,  save  when  stationed 
on  routes  of  communication  or  at  some  great  centre.  The 
members  of  the  Fourteenth  were  decided  and  outspoken  in 
their  opinions  upon  all  the  questions  raised  by  the  war ;  and 
partisan  politics  found  able  and  earnest  debaters,  some  of  the 
companies  being  quite  evenly  divided  at  this  period  of  the  regi 
ment's  history.  Later  in  the  war  the  prevailing  sentiment  was 
so  nearly  unanimous  that  there  was  no  interest  manifested  in 
any  purely  political  discussion. 

Some  of  the  officers  procured  furloughs  and  went  home.  In 
a  few  cases  of  peculiar  family  affliction,  enlisted  men  went  home 
for  ten  days.  These  exceptional  amenities  only  intensified  the 
tedium  of  those  who  could  not  go.  Every  case  of  sickness  was 
a  reminder  of  possibilities  in  the  future.  The  above  are  some  of 
the  considerations  which  drew  out  the  winter  of  1862-63  to  a 
weary  length.  Yet  the  discipline  of  that  winter  was  invaluable  ; 
for  the  Fourteenth  attained  a  homogeneity  so  strikingly  mani 
fested  in  later  and  crucial  hours  of  trial,  and  which  it  could  not 
have  secured  in  its  broken  and  detached  duties  in  Washington, 
nor  in  any  of  its  subsequent  campaign  experiences.  The  con 
solidating  influences  so  effectually  exerted  at  Poolesville  upon 
the  regiment  to  a  great  extent  account  for  the  brilliant  record 
which  it  wrung  out  from  circumstances  and  conditions  so  ad 
verse  that  its  inherent  superiority  was  eminently  conspicuous. 

The  regiment  was  in  the  habit,  on  battalion  drill,  of  forming 
a  hollow  square  against  cavalry,  and  returning  to  line  of  battle 
while  on  the  double-quick.  Capt.  Hyatt,  an  experienced  cav 
alry  officer,  declared  that  he  never  saw  a  regiment  of  infantry 
perform  the  manoeuvre  with  such  celerity. 


94  FOURTEENTH    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

There  was  much  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  winter  quarters  in 
that  old,  staid  Maryland  town,  still  under  the  domination  of  the 
slave-holders'  regime.  Provisions  could  be  obtained  from  neigh 
boring  plantations,  the  charges  not  being  exorbitant ;  the  slaves 
in  the  vicinity  were  ready  to  assist  the  Yankees  so  far  as  pru 
dence  allowed;  the  various  episodes  which  soldiers  can  create 
and  enjoy  were  frequent  and  spicy  enough  to  furnish  zest  for 
idle  hours ;  the  drills,  details,  parades,  sly  foraging  escapades, 
and  the  thousand  and  one  events  of  military  life,  — these  were 
alleviating  elements  which  recur  to  our  veterans,  and  which 
cause  Poolesville  to  be  remembered  pleasantly  among  the  sta 
tions  occupied  during  the  war. 

Peter  would  have  his  little  jokes ;  and  his  ingenuity  in  devis 
ing,  and  patience  in  execution,  always  made  them  a  success. 
Among  his  tent-mates  at  Poolesville  was  a  corporal,  who,  as 

Orderly  L used  to  say,  was  "  liable  "  to  practical  jokes. 

One  evening,  when  the  corporal  was  on  duty  with  the  first 
relief  of  camp-guard,  he  had  arranged  with  the  lieutenant  of 
the  guard,  as  was  customary,  to  go  to  his  company  quarters 
from  eleven  o'clock  to  three  for  a  four-hours'  sleep  in  his  own 
bunk.  Peter,  having  a  knowledge  of  this  fact,  was  observed 
by  his  tent-mates,  as  they  looked  up  from  their  reading  and 
euchre  during  the  evening,  to  be  busy  whittling :  after  eight 
o'clock  roll-call  at  tattoo,  some  one  asked  Peter  what  he  had 
been  up  to.  "  I've  been  making  a  '  Quaker  candle  '  and  some 
matches  for  the  corporal  to  light  when  he  comes  in."  An  ex 
amination  of  his  work  showed  it  to  be  a  perfect  reproduction  in 
wood  of  the  candle  that  always  stood  in  the  candlestick  on  the 
shelf  behind  the  little  sheet-iron  stove.  In  place  of  the  wick 
was  a  long  opening  filled  with  powder,  in  which  was  inserted  a 
fuse  made  of  paper  and  colored  black  with  ink,  a  perfect  imita 
tion  of  a  burnt  wick ;  two  or  three  cards  of  bogus  matches  had 
been  also  manufactured :  and,  when  the  three  taps  of  the  drum 
in  the  company  street  proclaimed  "lights  out,"  the  candle 
and  matches  were  in  their  accustomed  place  on  the  shelf ;  and 
the  seven  occupants  of  the  tent  were  patiently  waiting  for  the 
second  relief  to  go  on  guard. 


CAMP  ANTICS.  95 

Soon  after  eleven  the  door  opened,  the  corporal  stepped  in, 
took  off  his  equipments,  hung  them  on  the  peg,  put  his  gun  in 
the  rack  at  the  foot  of  the  bunks,  and  started  along  carefully  to 
light  the  candle.  Scratch  went  the  match  down  the  stove-pipe, 
but  no  light ;  then  another,  and  another,  with  equally  unsatisfac 
tory  results  ;  with  a  smothered  imprecation  on  the  matches,  he 
tried  half  a  card  at  a  time  until  they  were  all  gone.  Remem 
bering  that  one  of  the  boys  was  a  smoker,  and  invariably  had  a 
supply  of  matches  in  his  vest-pocket,  he  reached  for  the  vest,  and 
obtained  a  match.  As  the  flame  increased  in  size,  seven  pairs 
of  half-closed  eyes  were  watching  the  corporal  as  he  took  the 
candlestick  in  his  left  hand,  and,  with  the  lighted  match  in  his 
right,  carried  it  to  the  wick.  Fizz-z-z-z  went  the  candle ;  back 
jumped  the  corporal,  striking  the  stove,  over  which  he  fell  into 
one  of  the  bunks ;  while  such  a  chorus  of  shouts  went  up  from 
the  four  bunks  as  aroused  the  whole  company,  and  called  from 
the  officer  of  the  day  threats  to  put  all  the  occupants  of  the  tent 
in  the  guard-house,  should  such  a  disturbance  be  again  repeated. 

Spring  had  come,  and  the  kaleidoscope  was  ready  for  another 
turn  and  combination.  April  3  the  winter  status  was  disturbed, 
the  right  wing  being  ordered  to  picket-duty  on  the  Potomac 
between  Seneca  and  Great  Falls.  Lieut.-Col.  Barker  went  in 
command  of  the  detachment.  This  move  presaged  a  complete 
disruption  of  the  Poolesville  camp. 

Just  before  starting,  an  incident  occurred  of  some  interest  to 
those  concerned  in  the  affair.  A  fine  turkey,  which  had  been 
provided  for  an  approaching  wedding,  was  "  confiscated  "  by 
some  of  the  boys,  who  anticipated  a  feast.  But  their  expecta 
tions  were  rudely  shattered ;  for  Lieut.-Col.  Barker,  hearing  of 
their  performance,  obliged  them  to  return  it  to  the  mourning 
owners. 

A  certain  Mr.  Poole,  living  opposite  the  church  in  Pooles 
ville,  in  which  a  part  of  the  regiment  was  quartered,  had  about 
sixty  hens  and  chickens  when  the  boys  entered  the  place  ;  but, 
when  they  left  for  other  scenes,  the  only  representative  of  his 
large  flock  was  one  old  setting  hen,  who  was  too  thin  to  present 
attractions  to  the  eager  foragers. 


96  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

The  detachment  was  broken  up  at  Seneca  Falls;  Capt.  Hodg- 
don,  in  command  of  Companies  D  and  B,  being  ordered  to 
encamp  there ;  while  Lieut.-Col.  Barker,  with  the  remainder, 
proceeded  about  two  miles  farther  down  the  river.  The  com 
panies  which  were  relieved  at  Seneca  Falls  had  not  kept  as 
strict  a  watch  for  contraband  goods  as  was  required.  Previous 
Union  officers  in  command  had  been  somewhat  blinded  to  their 
duty  by  the  hospitalities  which  they  accepted  from  those  plant 
ers  who  were  engaged  in  smuggling,  and  quantities  of  goods 
had  crossed  the  river  without  restraint.  But  the  change  that 
took  place  when  the  detachment  of  the  Fourteenth  occupied  • 
this  position  was  interesting,  though  not  altogether  agreeable 
to  the  aforesaid  planters.  The  slaves,  seeing  that  their  confi 
dence  was  sought,  and  the  society  of  the  wealthy  owners 
avoided,  became  communicative,  revealing  to  the  soldiers  the 
secret  work  going  on  around  them. 

The  first  night  in  camp  here  was  thoroughly  uncomfortable, 
a  severe  snow-storm  setting  in  before  the  tents  were  all  up. 
The  former  camp  here  had  been  on  low  ground,  and  the  men 
had  suffered  much  from  sickness.  A  new  location  was  selected 
on  high  ground,  overlooking  the  river  for  some  distance  in  both 
directions ;  and,  as  the  air  was  excellent,  the  health  of  the  men 
was  good. 

One  evening  a  slave  from  the  plantation  on  which  the  men 
were  encamped  brought  information  to  Capt.  Hodgdon  that  he 
had  seen  a  wagon,  which  he  suspected  to  contain  goods,  enter 
the  forest  about  two  miles  away.  The  "next  morning  he  led  a 
party  to  the  spot  designated,  where  a  close  search  revealed  from 
three  to  four  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  goods  secreted  in  a 
ravine,  to  wait  for  a  suitable  opportunity  to  cross  the  river.  At 
night  the  command  was  separated  into  small  detachments,  and 
a  simultaneous  descent  made  upon  every  house  in  the  vicinity. 
Two  owners  were  arrested,  and  sent  to  the  Old-Capitol  Prison 
in  Washington.  Information  was  received  of  other  goods  ;  but 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Washington,  preventing  further 
search.  The  owner  of  the  plantation  left  the  morning  after  the 
search,  and  did  not  return  until  after  the  regiment  had  left  for 


CAPT.  JNO.  W.  STURTEVANT.  LIEUT,  S.  L.  BAILEY, 


CAPT.  SOLON  A.  CARTER. 


LIEUT.  E.  B.  He 


)WARD. 


LIEUT.  Jos,  H.  HUNT. 


COMPANY   G   OFFICERS!  —  ]  v 


A   NIGHT  ADVENTURE.  97 

Washington,  which  gave  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  he  was  also 
concerned  in  smuggling. 

Lieut.  Ira  Berry  took  command  of  Company  C,  vice  Capt. 
Coombs  discharged. 

Capt.  Chaffin  of  Company  I,  stationed  at  Great  Falls,  received 
word  soon  after  his  arrival,  April  9,  that  the  Rebels  were  sus 
pected  of  having  a  line  of  communication  across  the  river  about 
a  mile  below  the  camp.  An  incident  which  befell  Sergt.  Stow- 
ell,  acting  as  officer  of  the  guard,  served  to  strengthen  this  sus 
picion.  During  the  night,  which  was  very  dark,  the  sergeant 
set  out  alone  to  visit  the  outer  post  by  the  river.  This  could 
only  be  reached,  after  leaving  the  canal,  by  a  long  and  crooked 
path  through  the  woods.  When  about  half  a  mile  from  camp, 
he  heard,  the  sound  of  horses'  feet,  and,  hurrying  forward,  saw 
two  mounted  men  coming  out  of  the  path,  and  turning  down  by 
the  canal.  An  order  to  halt  only  caused  them  to  spur  their 
horses  forward,  and  the  sergeant's  instant  discharge  of  his 
rifle  accelerated  their  speed.  On  reaching  the  post,  the  men 
stationed  there  were  found  on  the  alert,  having  been  aroused  by 
a  peculiar  whistle  from  across  the  river.  They  had  put  out 
their  fire,  and  were  so  eagerly  on  the  watch  for  enemies, 
that  Sergt.  Stowell  was  nearly  fired  upon  before  he  was  recog 
nized.  Investigation  showed  that  the  horsemen  had  approached 
near  enough  to  see  the  reflection  of  light  from  the  fire,  and  had 
then  hastily  retreated.  The  next  morning  blood  was  found  for 
some  distance  along  the  tow-path,  showing  that  the  ball  fired 
had  taken  effect. 

April  13  the  left  wing  received  marching  orders,  destination 
unknown.  The  surmises  and  predictions  which  were  ventured, 
in  the  light  of  history  three  months  later,  seemed  wonderful  and 
amusing.  Two  days  after  the  Thirty-ninth  struck  its  tents, 
marched  for  Washington,  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  three 
months  later,  just  after  Gettysburg;  and  the  Fourteenth  never 
met  it  again.  Three  days  afterward,  on  the  18th,  the  Four 
teenth  broke  camp.  As  heretofore,  the  regiment,  although  the 
right  wing  had  gone,  and  left  desolation  brooding  over  a  large 
part  of  the  camp,  contemplated  an  abandonment  of  its  winter 


98  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

home  with  sincere  regret.  There  was  now  no  effort  made  to 
transform  every  soldier  into  a  pack-horse,  and  the  marching 
order  on  this  day  indicated  the  regiment's  rapid  advance  toward 
campaign  efficiency. 

A  surprise  awaited  the  men,  as  the  regiment  was  marched 
but  one  and  a  half  miles,  when  a  halt  was  sounded  ;  and  it  went 
into  camp,  being  joined  there  by  a  portion  of  the  Tenth  Vt. 
Forcibly  expressed  was  the  disgust  over  camp-furniture,  which 
had  disappeared  in  smoke,  and  which  might  have  now  been  uti 
lized,  but  for  a  premature  exuberance  of  pyrotechnic  playfulness, 
which  always  possesses  a  body  of  troops  when  they  are  about  to 
leave  a  locality,  and  can  find  any  thing  to  burn.  It  seemed  that 
it  was  intended  as  a  position  of  some  permanence ;  as  four  com 
panies  of  the  Twenty-Third  Me.,  Sleeper's  Battery,  and  Com 
pany  I  of  the  Sixth  Mich.  Cavalry  joined,  on  the  19th,  the  force 
already  there.  Yet  here  again  the  rank-and-file  expectation  was 
entirely  at  fault,  so  far  as  the  Fourteenth  was  concerned ;  for 
the  next  morning  line  was  formed  at  7.30  o'clock,  and  the  march 
for  Washington,  via  Edward's  Ferry,  was  begun.  At  the  ferry 
the  men  were  relieved  of  their  knapsacks,  which  were  piled  on 
a  canal-boat,  together  with  such  of  the  men  as  were  really  ailing, 
or  smart  enough  to  make  the  officers  believe  they  were.  A 
good  march  —  twenty-one  miles  —  was  made  that  day;  the  sev 
eral  picket  detachments  of  the  right  wing  falling  into  line  as 
they  were  reached  on  the  tow-path  of  the  canal. 

The  bivouac  that  night  was  at  Great  Falls,  a  place  of  consid 
erable  importance  as  a  point  of  distribution  of  goods  for  the 
inland  trade,  but  at  the  time  mentioned  was  much  abandoned 
and  more  dilapidated  on  account  of  a  prejudice  entertained  by 
the  former  inhabitants  against  frequent  interviews  with  both 
Union  and  Rebel  shells,  which  had  got  into  a  habit  of  almost 
periodically  screeching  over  and  into  the  little  hamlet  with  a 
sort  of  triple  location  on  river,  canal,  and  gorge.  The  last  part 
of  the  march  that  day  was  made  in  a  cold  rain  ;  and  when  the 
inevitable  delay  followed  the  halt  at  night  while  quarters  were 
being  allotted,  —  deserted  buildings  were  occupied,  —  the  limbs 
of  the  men  so  stiffened  that  they  were  moved  with  difficulty. 


THE   CHILL   OF  A    BIVOUAC.  99 

The  writer,  after  standing  for  a  few  minutes  in  an  immense 
windowless  warehouse,  became  so  much  like  a  ramrod  that 
neither  back  nor  legs  would  bend  at  all ;  so  that  four  comrades 
more  supple  took  him  and  laid  him  like  a  statue  on  his  blankets. 
The  officers  were  fortunate  in  securing  a  deserted  dwelling, 
which  the  occupants  had  vacated  so  abruptly  that  one  room 
was  still  carpeted  ;  so  that  the  officers  luxuriated  upon  that  car 
pet  as  a  downy  bed. 

Great  Falls  was  the  theatre  of  a  ludicrous  spectacle  the  next 
morning  when  the  line  was  formed  and  the  march  resumed.     A 
tidal  wave  of  ephemeral  rheumatism  had  swept  over  the  entire 
command.     An  extra  cup  of  coffee  was  needed  all  round:  while 
those  who  made  every  military  move  pivot  on  a  pint  of  commis 
sary  whiskey,  did  a  great  deal  of  lively  limbering  up ;  but,  while 
their  tongues  were  unusually  lithe,  their   marching   qualities 
were  in  no  wise  superior  to  those  who  depended  on  tea  and  cof 
fee.     The  Fourteenth  was  well  represented  on  canal-boats  that 
day :  but,  as  the  day  advanced  under  a  genial  sun,  the  men 
recovered ;  and  by  the  time  Georgetown  was  reached,  at  four 
P.M.,  nearly  all  of  the  disabled  ones  were  able  to  fall  in  and 
pursue  the  march  through  Georgetown  and  Washington.     The 
route  lay  up  New-York  Avenue  to  the  north-easterly  outskirts 
of  the  city  in  Gale's  Woods,  below  the  eminence  on  which  then 
stood  Finley  Hospital.     Here,  in  Camp  Adirondack,  at  7.30  in 
the  evening  of  April  21,  the  Fourteenth   went   into   quarters 
which  it  was  to  occupy  for  three-fourths  of  a  year.     This  camp 
was  delightfully,  though  rather  unhealthily,  located  in  an  oak- 
grove  on  undulating  ground.    The  quarters  consisted  of  A  tents 
on  four-foot  board  walls.    The  line-officers'  tents  were  located  on 
a  terrace  across  a  gully  from  the  company  streets,  while  the  field 
officers'  and  headquarters'  tents  were  still  more  elevated  farther 
to  the  rear.     In  front  of,  and  sloping  down  from,  the  parade- 
ground  in  front  of  the  camp,  was  the  line  of  cook-houses,  with 
a  sizable  brook  running   near   by.     In   many   respects  Camp 
Adirondack  was  a  model. 


100  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


THE    COOK-HOUSE. 

Among  the  impenetrable  mysteries  of  camp-life,  the  company 
cook-house  was  chiefest.  It  is  to  be  understood,  that  when  a 
regiment  had  become  well  mellowed,  trimmed  of  superfluities, 
and  disciplined  down  to  hard  knocks,  swift  motions,  and  the 
bottom  realities  of  actual  service  in  the  field,  cook-houses  were 
abolished,  cooks  relegated  to  the  ranks,  and  all  their  utensils 
and  privileges  stored  and  forgotten.  But  in  the  palmy,  nascent 
era,  when  a  regiment  had  more  baggage-wagons  than  were 
accorded  to  a  division  in  the  field,  then  it  was  that  the  cook 
shone  in  his  glory;  and  the  cook-house  was  his  citadel  and  sine 
cure.  "  For  ways  that  are  dark,  and  for  tricks  that  are  vain," 
the  average  company  cook  would  put  to  shame  all  the  heathen 
Chinese  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  portal  of  this  culinary  tem 
ple  of  Janus,  contradicting  tradition,  was  barred  to  the  common 
herd:  its  precinct  was  sacred,  and  its  contents  —  dubious.  It 
was  generally  suspected  that  it  contained  something  much  nicer 
than  was  ever  dealt  out  to  the  men  through  the  narrow  ration 
window,  which  somehow  reminded  the  timid  recruit  of  a  port 
hole,  with  the  irate  autocrat  inside  training  a  ten-pounder  on  all 
intruders. 

It  was  a  mystery  to  the  common  soldier  how  it  chanced  that 
some  were  so  favored  as  to  be  admitted  to  the  frying-pan  sanc 
tum,  using  it  as  a  dining-room,  while  others  were  rigorously 
excluded.  It  was  averred  that  second  and  third  rations  were 
not  impartially  distributed.  It  was  strongly  suspected  that  the 
choicest  bits  of  meat  and  the  occasional  dainties  purchased,  or 
extras  issued,  never  got  outside  of  a  select  ring,  which  glorified 
the  cook  and  absorbed  the  cream  of  the  commissariat.  Doubt 
less  our  friend,  the  grumbler,  instigated  all  this  malevolent  criti 
cism.  The  cook-house  proved  an  interminable  worry  to  all  the 
sensitive  ones,  who  would  have  rested  as  quiet  and  complaisant 
as  the  cook  himself  had  they  been  admitted  to  the  ring.  But 
the  complaints  were  as  persistent  as  they  were  useless.  The 
cook  held  his  position  by  favor  of  the  captain ;  and  no  army- 
corps  commander  was  ever  more  independent  in  his  realm  than 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  RATIONS.  101 

were  those  cooks,  all  subservient  as  Uriah  Heep  on  one  side  and 
as  inexorable  as  Shylock  on  the  other.  Many  and  wrathful 
were  the  inferences  drawn  from  the  fact  that  some  cooks  were 
in  the  habit  of  scrutinizing  the  next  applicant  in  the  line  before 
preparing  the  ration,  and  it  was  doubted  that  all  the  inequalities 
were  accidental. 

The  company  officers,  in  many  cases,  messed  from  the  com 
pany  stores ;  and  here  again  there  arose  a  great  source  of  anxiety. 
The  suspicious  warriors  declared  that  the  officers  got  all  the  best 
of  the  rations,  and  that  they  did  not  pay  their  full  share  ;  and  it 
was  alleged  that  some  paid  nothing  at  all.  The  cook  was  as 
mum  as  a  sphinx.  But  there  was  a  more  serious  grievance. 
With  some  regiments  the  commutation  system  was  practised  for 
a  time.  The  governmental  allowance  was  so  generous  that 
there  was  often  a  superfluity  of  many  articles  of  diet.  Regi 
ments  and  companies  might  refrain  from  drawing  their  full 
allowance  of  any  article  issued,  and  the  same  was  commuted  in 
cash.  In  this  way  some  companies  saved  a  large  sum,  which 
was  generally  expended  in  purchasing  delicacies  and  fresh 
edibles  not  drawn  from  the  commissary.  The  money  was 
drawn  for  the  company  by  its  commanding  officer,  and  there 
were  entire  companies  uncharitable  enough  to  believe  that  their 
captains  never  remembered  to  pay  over  or  expend  for  their  men 
the  full  amount  due.  But  let  us  defend  the  cook-house  and  its 
sovereign ;  for,  while  the  picture  we  have  drawn  is  absolutely 
true,  we  believe  it  is  representative  of  the  minority,  while  the 
great  majority  were  just,  and  genuine  good  fellows. 

Just  relieved  from  twenty-four  hours  of  arduous  service,  our 
detachment  files  into  camp.  Accoutrements  are  hung  on  the 
tent-pole;  blankets  unrolled  and  piled  on  the  bunk;  chum  or 
bunk-mate  pours  what  water  remains  in  the  canteen  on  our 
head  and  hands,  developing  a  clean  bit  of  skin  here  and  there  ; 
a  flourish  and  a  roll  from  our  little,  gray-headed,  pleasant-faced 
old  drummer,  and,  with  shrill  fife-screeches  leading  the  brusque 
rolls  of  the  drum,  the  dinner-call  is  sounded.  We  seize  plate, 
cup,  and  iron  spoon ;  and  before  the  orderly-sergeant  can  give 
the  order,  "  Company  F,  fall  in  for  rations,"  each  man  of  seventy 


102  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

or  eighty  makes  a  dive  for  a  position  as  near  the  right  of  the 
line  as  possible  :  as  the  orderly,  for  all  "grub  "  purposes,  ignores 
the  usual  formation,  and  it  is  a  go-as-you-please  race  for  the  best 
place. 

Who  forgets  the  "  right  face,"  the  single-file  tramp  to  rations 
under  the  oaks  of  Camp  Adirondack,  or  on  the  rolling  plain  of 
the  winter's  camp  in  Poolesville  ?  In  the  gray  of  dawn  and  the 
twilight  of  evening  we  made  our  doughty  tin-plate  assault  upon 
that  stronghold  of  an  ungarnished  cuisine.  And  such  appe 
tites  !  Say  what  you  will,  Uncle  Sam  was  "  a  good  provider." 
The  coffee  and  tea  were  excellent  generally :  so  was  the  sugar 
and  the  meat.  The  range  of  supplies  included  all  that  could  be 
reasonably  expected.  Never  since  battles  were  set  on  the  earth 
was  there  such  a  commissariat  for  such  an  unparalleled  host. 
Never  were  soldiers  so  well  and  so  bountifully  fed  as  were  the 
Union  troops  in  the  war  of  the  great  Rebellion.  There  were 
cases  of  severe  and  perhaps  unnecessary  hardship,  where  hard 
service  and  inadequate  rations  were  joined  in  one  experience ; 
but  it  was  either  an  inevitable  calamity  of  war,  or  the  fault  of  a 
single  officer.  The  government  did  all  and  more  than  could  have 
been  expected,  and  let  him  stand  in  deserved  contempt  who 
arraigns  her  for  any  neglect  in  the  general  commissariat. 

The  veterans  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  will  unite  in 
according  to  guerilla  Moseby  the  credit  of  being  an  extraordi 
nary  meddler  in  the  commissary  department.  One  of  his 
pleasant  pranks  was  observed  near  Berryville,  in  the  Valley, 
where  he  cut  forty  wagons  out  of  a  supply-train  one  night,  and 
got  safely  off  with  them  ;  the  drivers  of  the  front  and  rear  being 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  rencontre,  as  elsewhere  mentioned.  A 
history  of  the  wagon-train  experiences  of  Sheridan's  campaign 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  would  form  a  romantic  story.  On 
one  occasion  the  Rebs  got  so  much  of  the  Union  "  salt  horse  " 
and  "  trimmings  "  that  the  men  had  to  stretch  two  days'  rations 
into  three ;  and  at  another  time,  when  hard  marching  was  in 
order,  three  days'  provisions  were  eked  out  to  meet  five  days' 
hunger.  Then  dawned  the  palmy  era  of  graters  made  from 
split  canteens ;  meal  grated  out  of  corn  in  the  milk,  with  mar- 


THE   COLOR-SERGEANT'S  BEANS.  103 

vellous  dishes  consequent.  Instead  of  "  two  women  grinding  at 
the  mill,"  one  blue  blouse  held  the  punched-canteen  moiety  while 
another  grated  the  corn,  cob,  and  —  his  knuckles;  the  savory 
viands  being  relished  with  preparations  of  apples  just  set  from 
the  blossom. 

If  baked  beans  are  an  exponent  of  culture  at  the  Hub  of  the 
Universe,  stewed  beans  were  the  concomitant  of  patriotism  and 
the  physical  basis  of  bravery.  Beans  were  a  strong  point  in  the 
valley  commissariat,  and  the  men  clung  to  their  stews  with 
touching  tenacity.  At  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill  the  dish  of 
culture  and  commons  was  intimately  connected  with  the  honor 
of  the  flag.  The  color-sergeant  of  the  Fourteenth  was  devoted 
to  two  objects, — his  country  and  his  beans.  Added  to  a  native 
courage,  he  brought  to  the  support  of  the  stars  and  stripes  that 
acquired,  invincible  steadiness  always  secured  by  a  generous  diet 
of  stewed  beans  garnished  by  a  sufficiency  of  vitriol  vinegar. 
During  the  entire  afternoon,  while  the  preparations  were  going 
on  for  the  brilliant  coup  d'etat  in  which  the  battle  culminated, 
our  hero  of  the  colors  was  cooking  his  ration  of  beans,  and  had 
just  set  him  down  to  his  most  elegant  stew,  when  "  Fall  in  !  "  — 
"  Forward  !  "  were  the  commands  which  dissipated  his  anticipa 
tions.  He  weighed  his  duty  against  his  beans,  and  was  in 
doubt.  It  was  the  best  quart  stew  he  had  cooked  for  a  month. 
He  would  not  desert  his  flag :  he  could  not  abandon  his  beans. 
As  a  dernier  ressort,  he  tied  his  steaming,  soot-black  pail  to 
his  belt:  the  regiment  filed  out  of  the  woods,  formed  line  of 
battle,  and  advanced  to  the  charge.  The  color-sergeant  was 
observed  to  keep  his  eyes  on  the  enemy  and  —  that  dangling 
pail ;  and  the  track  of  the  Fourteenth  was  strewn  and  marked, 
not  so  much  by  corpses  as  by  beans.  Fisher's  Hill  was  won, 
but  an  excellent  bean-stew  was  lost. 

Long  live,  in  memory,  Virginia  rails !  Thou  little  miracle  of 
tin  cup,  kettle,  oven,  stewpan,  teakettle,  coffee-pot,  drinking-cup, 
bean-pot,  and  sauce-dish,  —  all  in  one,  —  we  would  immortalize 
thee  in  verse.  In  one  day  we  have  used  thee  to  boil  and  drink 
our  coffee,  stew  sauce,  cook  beans,  boil  beef,  soak  hardtack,  and 
heat  water.  Thou  hast  taught  us  that  living  may  be  greatly 


104  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

simplified.  We  see  thee  now,  between  the  snapping  rails  of  a 
glorious  camp-fire  under  the  stars,  which  seem  to  be  signalling 
our  thoughts  home  to  the  friends  who,  perchance,  are  watching 
them  too.  Our  supper  is  in  that  grimy  tin  kettle,  and  some 
clumsy  foot  has  tilted  the  precious  dish  until  the  whole  satisfac 
tion  of  the  evening  is  jeopardized.  We  arrange  the  cup  and 
disarrange  the  heedless  lout.  In  the  fragrant  bubbling  of  that 
insignificant  quart  cup  is  to  be  seen  the  salvation  of  the  Union. 


Camp  Adirondack  had  just  been  vacated  by  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighteenth  N.Y.,  and  that  organization  evidently  had  not 
been  governed  by  the  ideas  of  neatness  and  of  sanitary  regula 
tion  prevalent  in  the  Fourteenth.  At  any  rate,  a  vigorous 
policing  was  at  once  entered  upon  with  manifest  results.  In 
spite  of  every  precaution,  there  was  a  general  appearance  of 
chills:  and,  later,  typhoid  swept  through  the  camp,  and  made 
victims  of  some  of  the  finest  soldierly  material  of  which  the 
regiment  could  boast. 

The  duty  of  the  Fourteenth  in  the  city  of  Washington  was 
more  onerous  than  that  of  any  previous  or  subsequent  period  in 
its  term  of  service.  When  the  regiment  first  arrived  in  the 
city,  some  opportunity  was  afforded  for  company  drill ;  but  the 
details  soon  grew  so  heavy  that  there  were  never  enough  men 
in  camp  liable  for  drill,  to  make  out  of  a  company  a  decent 
squad;  and  but  twice  during  the  entire  stay  in  Washington  was 
there  a  battalion  drill.  The  men  were  being  trained  in  the  most 
delicate  and  responsible  duties  and  trusts  ever  devolved  upon 
the  most  trusted  troops. 

Sunday  afternoon,  the  26th,  dress-parade  was  held  in  the 
presence  of  a  throng  of  visitors.  Several  prominent  army  offi 
cers  were  present,  and  scores  of  the  staffs  of  the  military  and 
civil  departments  of  government.  Such  a  gathering  of  specta 
tors  was  a  surprise  and  a  novelty  to  the  Fourteenth,  and,  in  its 
results,  produced  a  marked  effect  upon  the  morale  of  the  regi 
ment.  A  new  pride  was  aroused;  and  officers  and  men  per- 


THE    WHITE-GLOVED  PETS.  105 

ceived,  that,  as  representatives  of  the  Granite  State  in  the 
capital  of  the  nation,  the  Fourteenth  must  rise  to  the  dignity  of 
its  opportunity.  And  here  began  what  may  be  termed  the 
white-glove  era  in  the  history  of  the  organization.  Henceforth, 
while  in  Washington,  the  men  were  never  to  appear  on  parade, 
nor  on  several  posts  of  regular  duty,  minus  white  gloves.  Now, 
the  dirty,  war-worn  veterans  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
joined  hands  with  Sherman's  bummers  in  not  only  condemning, 
but  ridiculing,  white  gloves.  Denunciation,  sarcasm,  and  every 
epithet  of  contempt,  were  employed  against  bandbox  heroes, 
parlor  cadets,  Lincoln's  pets,  etc.  No  exclamations  of  derision 
appeared  to  be  quite  equal  to  their  feeling  for  those  who  had 
"  soft  places  "  in  the  allotment  of  duty.  A  regiment  arriving 
at  the  front  in  a  field  campaign,  fully  equipped  and  uniformed 
according  to  regulations,  was  frequently  hooted  and  jeered  un 
mercifully  by  the  tatterdemalion  warriors,  who  were  so  far 
removed  from  the  refined  amenities  of  home-life,  that  they 
seemed  to  have  almost  forgotten  that  soldiers  are  not  incapaci 
tated  for  efficient  service  by  reason  of  wearing  clean  uniforms, 
and  performing  their  duty  according  to  regulations.  There 
was  -often  a  reasonable  pretext  for  the  ridicule  referred  to. 
Commanding  officers  of  regiments,  who  were  devoid  of  both 
common  sense  and  kindness  toward  the  men,  played  the  marti 
net  in  such  a  manner  as  to  disgust  even  those  who  could  not 
join  in  the  clamor  against  neatness  and  strict  discipline.  The 
Fourteenth  was  happy  in  never  being  commanded  by  any  officer 
who  was  a  mere  martinet. 

The  state  of  opinion  above  delineated  was  partly  to  be  ac 
counted  for  in  the  jealousy  felt  by  troops  at  the  front  toward 
those  organizations  somewhat  permanently  located  in  or  near 
some  city  or  military  station.  Particularly  was  this  true  con 
cerning  the  regiments  of  infantry  and  heavy  artillery  stationed 
in  and  about  Washington.  It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that 
contempt  gave  place  to  complacency  whenever  the  complainants 
themselves  secured  a  desirable  assignment.  The  jealousy  was 
natural,  but  the  contempt  and  opprobrium  unjust  and  unworthy 
of  a  Union  soldier. 


106  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

A  slur  upon  a  soldier,  because  he  was  enabled  and  ordered  to 
dress  somewhat  like  a  gentleman,  should  never  come  from  a 
comrade,  even  if  the  latter  must  lie  in  mud  with  only  a  shelter- 
tent  to  cover  him.  Some  troops  must  perform  such  service, 
and  the  best  troops  were  needed  in  Washington  as  well  as  at 
the  front.  Further,  no  regiment  or  number  of  regiments 
monopolized  this  preferred  duty.  In  Washington,  there  was 
quite  as  much  rotation  as  was  consistent  with  efficient  service. 
The  Fourteenth  did  spend  nine  months  in  the  capital ;  but  its 
duty  was  much  more  severe,  and  its  losses  by  death  far  greater, 
than  on  an  active  campaign.  One  fact  should  be  remembered, 
a  fact  conspicuously  illustrated  by  the  Fourteenth.  The  white- 
glove  regiments,  those  which  marched  with  exactness  rather 
than  as  a  strung-out  mob,  those  which  for  shorter  or  longer 
periods  performed  guard  or  special  duty  in  Washington  or 
elsewhere,  regiments  which  were  most  self-respecting  in  all 
details  of  appearance,  —  these  invariably  made  a  record,  when 
sent  to  the  front  and  into  battle,  as  brilliant  for  steadiness, 
gallantry,  and  reliability,  as  that  of  any  which  boasted  of  its 
freedom  from  red  tape,  strict  discipline,  and  conformity  to  pre 
scribed  details.  Neat  uniforms,  polished  brasses,  and  white 
gloves  were  necessary  in  Washington.  In  the  trenches  around 
Petersburg,  or  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  they  would  have  been 
an  absurdity. 

The  location  of  the  Fourteenth  in  Camp  Adirondack  afforded 
a  training  which  admirably  rounded  out  its  military  discipline, 
prepared  it  for  subsequent  fighting,  and  wonderfully  enlarged 
its  military  experience.  The  latter  consideration  cannot  be 
overestimated.  Many  a  Union  regiment  served  its  country 
faithfully,  heroically,  but  in  a  narrow  channel  of  training, 
observation,  and  general  martial  experience.  The  army  experi 
ence  of  the  Fourteenth  was  so  varied,  covered  so  much  terri 
tory,  embraced  so  many  conditions,  relationships  with  prominent 
men  and  events,  that  the  three  years  of  its  existence  was  an 
education  for  its  members  of  inestimable  value,  and  gave  it  high 
vantage  ground  for  observation  and  comprehension  of  war. 

On  the   3d  of  May,  while  the  Army  of  the   Potomac  was 


CAPT.  T.  A.  RIPLEY, 


CAPT.  N.  L.  CHANDLER. 


CAPT.  W.  E.  COBLEIGH. 


LIEUT.  COL.  O.  H.  MARSTON.! 


LIEUT.  A.  F  .HUSSEY. 


LIEUT.  D.  H.  PILLSBURY. 


LIEUT.  H.  P.  PAGE.  ,', 


LIEUT.  COL.  AND  LINE  OFFICERS. 


GUARDING   THE  JOHNNIES.  107 

wrestling  with  treason  on  the  Rappahannock,  in  the  dreadful 
and  disastrous  throes  of  Chancel! orsville,  the  Fourteenth  took 
a  step  forward  in  its  preparation  for  conflict  efficiency  by  ex 
changing  its  old  smooth-bores  for  a  good  pattern  of  arms,  the 
Springfield  rifle.  The  next  day  the  regiment  performed  escort 
duty  at  the  obsequies  of  Brigadier-Gen.  Plummer,  a  service 
further  referred  to  in  the  article  "  Music  in  the  Army." 

May  7  the  Fourteenth,  or  rather  seven  companies  of  it,  — 
Companies  K,  E,  and  G  remaining  in  the  city,  —  went  on  a 
genuine  picnic  excursion  ;  and  both  officers  and  men  entered 
thoroughly  into  the  spirit  of  the  occasion,  and  made  the  most  of 
the  opportunity.  Orders  came  to  march  with  three-days'  ra 
tions  ;  and  the  march  was  soon  found  to  mean  a  most  agreeable 
railway  and  steamboat  excursion  to  Fort  Delaware,  via  Balti 
more,  Philadelphia,  and  the  Delaware  River,  for  the  purpose  of 
escorting  one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty  Rebel  prisoners, 

officers  and  men,  to  snug  quarters  in  the  stone  mansion 

Uncle  Sam's  seaside  resort  —  in  Delaware  Bay. 

On  the  way,  guards  and  prisoners  fraternized  without  re 
straint  or  the  least  manifestation  of  animosity.  The  Union 
guards  struck  up  some  plantation  melody;  and  the  Johnnies 
joined  heartily  in  the  chorus,  to  the  astonishment  of  most  of 
the  regiment,  who  had  entertained  no  such  conceptions  of  the 
possible  relations  of  antagonistic  parties  engaged  in  a  terrific 
struggle.  Capt.  Hodgdon,  sitting  down  by  a  Rebel  captain, 
remarked,  "  This  does  not  look  much  like  war !  "  —  "  No  !  "  the 
captive  officer  replied.  "  And  there  is  really  no  ill  feeling  be 
tween  the  men.  The  trouble  was  brought  on  by  men  in  higher 
stations,  and  these  poor  fellows  must  shed  their  blood  to  settle 
it." 

The  above  must  not  be  taken  as  the  prevailing  sentiment 
among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Rebel  army.  A  large  propor 
tion  were  desperately  in  earnest,  and  were  animated  by  a  spirit 
of  indescribable  bitterness  toward  the  North.  It  is  an  unde 
served  slur  upon  the  Rebel  troops  to  intimate,  as  has  been  so 
frequently  done  since  the  war,  that  they  were  not  devoted  to 
their  Confederacy.  A  heavy  percentage  of  the  soldiers  of  the 


108  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

South  was  just  as  sincere,  in  its  support  of  the  Lost  Cause,  as 
were  the  defenders  of  the  Union ;  and  we  may  truthfully  con 
cede,  that,  while  they  were  less  intelligent  in  their  devotion, 
their  zeal  in  the  maintenance  of  the  Rebellion  was  more  intense 
than  was  the  loyalty  of  the  average  Union  soldier.  It  was 
fanaticism  matched  with  a  cool,  educated,  and  unswerving 
national  patriotism.  It  was  at  last  only  a  question  of  filling 
mouths  at  the  front  and  stopping  mouths  at  the  rear.  It  was, 
too,  in  the  beginning,  a  question  of  flags.  Could  the  Rebellion 
have  been  fought  under  the  stars  and  stripes,  it  might  have 
succeeded. 

The  prisoners  under  escort  were  captured  at  Chancellorsville, 
were  largely  conscripted,  and  although  under  the  redoubtable 
Lee,  and  terrible  fighters,  were  probably  as  little  in  sympathy 
with  the  continuance  of  the  war  as  any  troops  throughout  the 
South.  The  expedition  arrived  in  Baltimore  at  midnight  and 
remained  until  morning,  leaving  for  Philadelphia,  which  was 
reached  at  eleven  o'clock  A.M.  Again  the  Fourteenth  enjoyed 
the  remarkable  hospitality  of  the  centre  of  Brotherly  Love ; 
and  the  renowned  cooper-shop  Soldier's  Refreshment  Saloon, 
resounded  to  the  valiant  play  of  the  regiment's  weapons  of  — 
gastronomies.  The  regiment,  with  those  under  its  care,  took 
boat,  and  sailed  down  the  Delaware  to  the  fort. 

At  six  P.M.  of  the  8th,  th'e  Fourteenth  safely  landed  its 
charge  in  Fort  Delaware,  and  at  midnight  re-embarked,  arriv 
ing  in  Philadelphia  at  daylight,  where  breakfast  was  taken. 
That  evening  at  seven  o'clock  the  regiment  was  at  home  in 
Camp  Adirondack,  having  completed  one  of  the  pleasantest 
trips  in  its  history. 

Immediately  after  its  arrival  in  Washington,  the  Fourteenth 
was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  Old- Capitol  Prison,  a  notorious 
place  of  confinement  for  prominent  Rebel  officers  and  prisoners 
of  state.  On  the  very  spot  where  a  Fourteenth  sentinel  often 
trod  his  day  and  midnight  beat,  Mrs.  Surratt,  one  of  the  con 
spirators  in  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  was  after 
ward  hung.  The  guard-duty  at  the  Old-Capitol  Prison  was 
done  by  detail  and  not  by  detachment ;  and  such  was  the  bur- 


THE   OLD-CAPITOL  PRISON.  109 

den  laid  upon  the  men,  that  often  the  same  guards  were  on  duty 
every  other  day  in  addition  to  a  march  of  three  miles. 

The  writer  was  fortunate  or  unfortunate  enough  to  be  num 
bered  in  the  first  detail  which  relieved  the  previous  guard.  That 
guard  was  from  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  N.  Y.,  a 
Dutch  regiment,  and  the  most  utterly  worthless  and  contempti 
ble  military  crowd  that  ever  huddled  into  the  ranks  of  a  battal 
ion.  The  detail  from  the  Fourteenth  reached  the  prison  on  the 
evening  of  April  22.  The  guard  was  halted  in  the  street  in 
front  of  the  prison,  to  await  the  exit  of  the  old  guard,  in  order 
that  the  new  detail  might  occupy  the  guard-room.  The  wait 
ing  was  greatly  prolonged.  The  officer  from  the  Fourteenth 
went  inside  to  learn  the  reason  for  the  delay ;  and  soon  there 
streamed  forth,  heavy  on  the  air,  a  volume  of  cursing  entirely 
eclipsing  the  historic  achievements  of  the  army  in  Flanders. 
It  was  out-Dutching  the  Dutch  in  a  manner  that  would  have 
astounded  Miles  Standish.  There  being  no  indication  of  any 
marshalling  of  the  Dutchmen,  the  detail  of  the  Fourteenth  was 
ordered  inside  ;  and  the  men  began  to  look  about  for  bunking- 
places.  The  officers  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth 
grew  desperate,  and  tried  again  to  get  their  men  into  line.  Most 
of  them  were  asleep  on  the  string  of  benches  running  round  the 
guard-room.  No  command  or  threat  produced  the  least  effect. 
At  last  the  officers  went  about  rolling  the  men  off  the  benches 
as  though  they  were  logs.  They  were  slapped,  kicked,  and 
pricked  out  of  the  prison,  and  tumbled  off  to  camp.  At  other 
points  in  the  city  that  regiment  was  relieved  by  the  Fourteenth, 
and  something  of  such  a  ridiculous  programme  was  re-enacted. 

One  incident  well  illustrates  the  character  of  this  volunteer 
buttress  of  the  Union.  On  a  certain  day  the  morning  report 
showed  over  three  hundred  men  fit  for  duty.  From  the  district 
headquarters  a  requisition  was  sent  for  a  detail  of  a  hundred 
men.  The  colonel  at  once  replied  that  he  could  not  furnish 
so  many.  His  attention  was  called  to  his  morning  report ;  to 
which  he  responded  by  inviting  some  officer  to  ride  over  to  the 
regiment,  and  ascertain  the  cause.  Lieut.  C.  D.  Wright  of  the 
Fourteenth,  on  Gen.  Martindale's  staff,  did  visit  the  camp  of 


110  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth ;  and  the  spectacle  pre 
sented  perfectly  satisfied  him  that  the  colonel  was  correct. 
One-third  of  all  the  men  fit  for  duty  were  standing  about  the 
camp  on  barrels  and  boxes  as  a  punishment  for  drunkenness 
and  insubordination.  Most  of  the  remaining  force  was  required 
to  guard  the  offenders,  while  the  officers  were  all  needed  to 
watch  the  guards. 

The  Rebel  prisoners  in  the  Old  Capitol  were  among  the  most 
intelligent  of  the  Southern  captives ;  and  many  and  sharp  were 
the  tilts  between  the  best  debaters  in  the  Fourteenth,  and  the 
Johnny  officers.  The  captives  in  this  prison  were  as  well  fed 
as  the  Union  guards;  and  yet  a  majority  grumbled  at  their 
treatment,  at  the  time  when  Yankee  soldiers  were  being  starved 
and  murdered  in  Southern  prison-pens.  The  Fourteenth  per 
formed  guard-duty  at  this  prison  until  toward  the  close  of  its 
sta}r  in  the  city,  when  it  was  relieved  by  the  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps.  Among  the  officers  on  duty  there  were  Capt.  Hodgdon, 
Capt.  Barker,  Lieut.  Hall. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1863,  an  order  came  to  the  regiment  for 
a  detail  of  one  officer,  two  sergeants,  five  corporals,  and  forty 
men  to  report  to  Capt.  Robinson,  A.Q.M.,  at  Sixth-street  Wharf. 
The  detail  was  similar  to  many  which  had  previously  been 
made,  and  was  supposed  to  be  for  guarding  Rebel  prisoners, 
arriving  from  the  front  by  steamer,  from  the  wharf  to  Old-Capi 
tol  Prison.  The  detail  was  in  command  of  Lieut.  Sturtevant, 
and  was  composed  of  men  from  nearly  every  company  in  the 
regiment.  On  arriving  at  the  wharf,  its  duty  was  found  to  be 
of  a  permanent  character,  relieving  a  similar  detachment  of  the 
Ninth  N.  J.  Regiment,  which  had  been  stationed  there  for  sev 
eral  months.  The  command  was  quartered  in  barracks  on  Sixth 
Street,  near  the  wharf,  the  commander  having  a  little  cottage 
just  above  them. 

The  duties  of  the  detachment  were  guarding  the  quartermas 
ter's  stores,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  Baker's  detectives,  the 
examination  of  passes  and  baggage  of  all  persons  going  to  or 
returning  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  was  then  sta 
tioned  at  Falmouth :  daily  communication  was  maintained  by 


CRINOLINE  AND    WHISKEY.  Ill 

the  steamer  "John  Brooks,"  which  left  the  wharf  every  morning 
at  seven  o'clock  for  Aquia  Creek,  and  returned  in  the  after 
noon  at  six  o'clock.  Vast  amounts  of  sutler's  supplies  were 
daily  brought  to  the  wharf  for  shipment  to  the  front,  all  of 
which  had  to  be  inspected,  and  checked  off  from  invoices,  before 
they  could  be  passed  by  the  guard  to  the  pier  where  the  steamer 
took  on  freight.  Lieut.  Mahaffy,  of  the  staff  of  Gen.  Patrick, 
provost-marshal  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  had  charge  of 
this  inspection,  being  assisted  by  details  from  the  detachment. 
The  regular  duties  of  the  post  were  not  severe ;  but  so  many 
extra  demands  were  made  on  the  detachment,  not  only  for 
guard-duty,  but  also  for  manual  labor,  that  the  detail  was  not, 
as  many  supposed,  a  "soft  thing."  Arrivals  of  steamers  with 
prisoners,  hospital-boats  loaded  with  wounded  and  sick  men 
from  the  front,  arrived  almost  daily;  and  the  entire  detachment 
was  often  on  duty  without  relief  for  days  in  succession. 

The  smuggling  of  liquor  to  Alexandria  and  Giesborough 
Point,  to  be  sold  to  men  in  the  camps  at  those  places,  was  so 
profitable  as  to  tempt  many  to  engage  in  it,  requiring  the  con 
tinued  vigilance  of  all  on  duty.  Among  the  devices  detected  for 
this  smuggling  was  one  practised  by  the  apple  and  pie  women, 
who  were  accustomed  to  go  down  on  the  Alexandria  boat  to 
sell  their  wares  to  the  soldiers  in  camp  and  hospital.  Among 
their  goodies  were  invariably  the  long  black  bologna  sausages, 
always  at  the  bottom  of  the  basket.  One  day  a  closer  exam 
ination  of  the  basket  than  usual  disclosed  a  row  of  genuine 
bolognas  on  top,  and  underneath  six  or  eight  skins  filled 
with  whiskey.  For  a  long  time  a  richly  dressed  lady  was  no 
ticed  coming  from  Alexandria  two  or  three  times  a  week  on 
the  government  boat.  She  always  came  to  take  the  return 
boat  in  a  hack ;  and  the  sergeant  on  duty  observed  that  the 
driver,  in  helping  her  from  the  carriage,  was  exceedingly  care 
ful,  and  that  her  walk  to  the  boat  was  slow  and  labored.  After 
close  watching  for  several  trips,  it  was  decided  to  arrest  the 
woman,  and  search  her.  The  result  was,  the  finding  of  eleven 
canteens  of  whiskey  suspended  from  a  belt  about  her  waist, 
concealed  beneath  the  skirts  of  her  dress. 


112  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

At  the  lower  pier  of  the  wharf  lay  the  President's  steamer, 
the  "  Carrie  Martin,"  constantly  under  steam,  and  ready  to 
start  at  a  moment's  notice ;  although  she  left  her  dock  but  four 
times  during  the  whole  summer,  —  three  times  with  the  Presi 
dent  and  friends,  and  once  with  the  Secretary  of  War.  Nearly 
every  officer  of  distinction  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  passed 
the  guard  during  the  summer;  and  the  sentinel's  cry,  "Turn  out 
the  guard  —  general  officer!"  was  an  almost  daily  occurrence. 
The  character  of  the  duty  required  of  the  guard,  and  the  dis 
tinguished  military  and  civil  officers  that  frequently  visited  and 
passed  them,  compelled  neatness  in  personal  appearance  on 
their  part,  and  a  prompt  and  intelligent  performance  of  the 
service  required  of  them.  The  arms  and  equipments  of  the 
guard  were  in  perfect  condition,  and  were  their  pride  through 
out  their  entire  term  of  service. 

On  the  27th  of  June  the  detail  at  the  wharf  was  'changed, 
and  from  that  date,  until  relieved  in  February,  1864,  was  com 
posed  entirely  of  members  of  Company  G.  Lieut.  Sturtevant 
was  relieved  on  the  7th  of  November,  1863,  by  Lieut.  Tolman 
of  the  same  company.  The  detachment  remained  until  the 
departure  of  the  regiment  from  the  city. 

During  the  war  the  military  authorities  made  use  of  two 
prisons  in  the  city  of  Washington,  —  the  Old-Capitol  Prison, 
east  of  the  Capitol ;  and  the  Central  Guard-House,  situated  at 
the  junction  of  Louisiana  Avenue  and  Tenth  Street,  near  Penn 
sylvania  Avenue.  The  Fourteenth  furnished  guards  for  both 
prisons  during  its  eleven-months'  duty  in  Washington ;  but  a 
portion  of  the  regiment  were  more  familiar  with  the  Central 
Guard-House  than  with  the  Old  Capitol,  not  because  they  were 
often,  or  ever  if  I  remember  rightly,  inmates  of  the  prison,  but 
because  nearly  every  man  in  the  regiment  was  brought  in  con 
tact  with  the  •  prison  by  being  on  duty  there.  The  Central 
Guard-House  had  been  used  as  the  common  city-jail  before  the 
war.  It  was  not  a  very  strong  prison,  nor  was  it  well  con 
structed  as  to  convenience  or  sanitary  advantages.  It  was 
small,  and  looked  more  like  the  engine-house  of  some  New- 


THE   CENTRAL   GUARD-HOUSE.  113 

England  fire-company  than  a  jail.  It  was  built  of  brick  with 
stone  floors,  and  consisted  of  a  main  building  some  forty  feet 
square  and  two  stories  high,  with  an  L  extending  forty  or  fifty 
feet  to  the  rear  from  the  centre  of  the  building.  This  L  was 
two  stories  high,  and  was  divided  into  cells  on  each  floor, 
located  on  each  side  of  an  alley  down  the  centre.  In  the  main 
building,  on  the  first  floor,  were  rooms  used  as  offices  for  recep 
tion  and  trial  or  examination  of  prisoners,  property-room,  and 
guard-rooms.  The  second  floor  consisted  of  one  large  room, 
No.  1,  into  which  most  of  the  prisoners  were  sent  at  first, 
especially  if  citizens.  There  were  usually  from  fifty  to  one 
hundred  prisoners  in  this  room.  All  kinds  and  grades  of  peo 
ple,  from  the  soldier  found  drunk  on  the  streets,  to  men  arrested 
for  murder,  and  even  what  would  now  be  termed  "  suspects," 
found  their  way  to  the  Central  Guard-House. 

When  the  Fourteenth  went  to  Washington  from  Poolesville 
in  the  spring  of  1863,  it  was  put  upon  duty  as  patrols,  guards 
at  bridges  and  ferries,  military  headquarters,  storehouses,  pris 
ons,  etc.  Capt.  J.  S.  Cooper  of  the  Tenth  N.  J.  was  in  charge 
of  the  Central  Guard-House,  having  under  him  two  officers, 
taking  twenty-four-hour  tours,  alternately,  from  noon  to  noon ; 
and  an  ample  guard,  with  sergeants  and  other  subalterns.  The 
judge-advocate  was  Major  J.  P.  Cilley  of  the  First  Me.  cavalry. 
Capt.  C.  M.  Merritt  of  the  Twentieth  Mass,  soon  relieved 
Major  Cilley.  When  the  Fourteenth  was  drawn  upon  to  guard 
the  prison,  Sergt.  Paul  was  made  prison-sergeant.  May  26 
Lieuts.  Stark  Fellows  and  Carroll  D.  Wright  were  detached  from 
the  Fourteenth  by  order  of  Gen.  Martindale,  commander  mili 
tary  district  of  Washington,  and  detailed  for  duty  at  Central 
Guard-House.  Lieut.  Ira  Berry,  jun.,  afterwards  relieved 
Lieut.  Fellows ;  and  Lieut.  Solomon  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-eighth  N.  Y.  relieved  Lieut.  Wright  the  last  of  June. 
Lieut.  Berry  relieved  Capt.  Cooper,  and  was  placed  in  charge 
of  the  prison.  Other  officers  of  the  Fourteenth,  among  them 
Lieut.  George  F.  Blanchard,  were  subsequently  on  duty  at  the 
Central  Guard-House.  During  this  summer  of  1863  the  prop 
erty-clerk  was  Sergt.  F.  C.  Homer  of  the  Seventy-sixth  N.  Y., 


114  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  the  clerks  were  R.  N.  Washburn  of  Thirty-ninth  Mass., 
J.  P.  Cherry  of  Seventy-sixth  N.  Y.,  and  J.  B.  Davenport  of 
Twentieth  Mass. 

As  above  mentioned,  the  high  and  the  low  found  quarters  in 
this  prison,  or  rather  quarters  were  found  here  for  them.  The 
persons  arrested  by  the  patrols  or  the  guards  at  bridges  and 
ferries  were  sent  here  for  temporary  confinement.  In  the  morn 
ing  all  parties,  unless  held  on  the  orders  of  the  war  department, 
by  Col.  Baker's  detective  force,  or  by  special  order,  were  exam 
ined  by  the  judge-advocate,  and  either  returned  to  their  regi 
ments,  if  soldiers,  or  over  to  the  civil  authorities  if  the  offence 
for  which  they  were  arrested  was  against  the  civil  law,  or  were 
held  for  disposition  by  orders. 

Sometimes  political  prisoners  were  confined  here;  and  the  boys 
will  well  remember  four  or  five  nice  old  farmers  from  Virginia, 
who  were  kept  in  a  cell  for  several  weeks,  without  charges 
being  prepared,  or  any  action  taken  in  the  matter,  until  one 
morning  they  were  released.  Honest  old  souls  they  were,  and 
they  never  knew  why  they  were  made  to  pass  three  or  four 
weeks  in  the  vile  vermin-lined  cells  of  the  Central  Guard- 
House. 

One  day  as  a  colored  regiment,  one  of  the  first  organized, 
was  passing  up  the  avenue  in  front  of  the  treasury,  a  well- 
known  restaurant-keeper,  who  was  looking  on  from  the  door  of 
his  elegant  saloon,  made  some  remark  concerning  colored  troops, 
which  was  overheard  by  one  of  Baker's  men,  who  at  once 
arrested  Mr.  H.,  and  brought  him  to  the  Central  Guard-House. 
The  high-toned  prisoner  was  allowed  the  sumptuous  plank  seat 
and  bed  of  the  property-clerk's  room,  and  was  fed  from  his 
own  kitchens.  The  officers  of  the  Guard-House  considered 
him  to  be  there  unjustly,  as  he  was  known  to  be  a  loyal  man, 
and  a  personal  friend  of  President  Lincoln.  Little  Teddy 
Lincoln  came  to  the  prison  several  times  to  console  Mr.  H.  In 
a  day  or  two  an  order  came  down  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
or  the  release  of  Mr.  H.,  for  which  the  boys  were  very  sorry, 
as  his  kitchen  furnished  much  better  rations  than  did  Uncle 
Sam. 


THE  NOZZLE   CURE.  115 

The  Island,  especially  that  portion  known  as  "  Murder  Bay," 
kept  the  prison  well  supplied  with  tenants.  Scarcely  a  night 
passed  that  some  serious  assault,  if  not  murder,  did  not  occur  in 
this  quarter,  and  many  a  bloody  and  broken  head  was  brought 
in  by  the  patrols.  The  city  police  and  the  patrols  were  not  on 
the  best  of  terms ;  and  the  patrols  were  obliged  to  preserve  the 
peace,  as  well  as  see  that  soldiers  were  not  abroad  without 
passes. 

The  guard-house  was  an  uncomfortable  place  for  a  drunken 
man,  especially  if  fighting  drunk.  A  good  dose  of  Potomac 
water,  applied  through  a  hose  upon  the  naked  person  of  a  drunken 
man,  had  a  most  beneficial  effect.  It  not  only  took  out  all  sore 
ness  resulting  from  exposure  to  the  night  air,  but  it  took  out  all 
conceit.  A  man  full  of  rum,  after  this  invigorating  and  health 
ful  treatment,  was  a  soberer  and  a  cleaner  man,  and,  if  not 
tractable,  was  willing,  after  the  second  or  third  treatment,  to 
tell  where  he  obtained  his  liquor ;  and  the  party  supplying  the 
prisoner  was  generally  as  much  astonished  at  the  results  of  the 
bath  as  was  the  soldier  taking  it.  When  sober  the  man  was  sent 
to  his  regiment,  under  guard,  with  a  letter  from  the  officer  on 
duty  stating  all  the  circumstances. 

No.  1,  the  general  reception-room,  presented  an  exceedingly 
cosmopolitan  appearance  at  all  times,  with  its  hundred  or  so 
cut-throats,  thieves,  and  other  ruffians.  The  calling  of  the 
roll  in  this  room  on  a  hot  summer  morning  was  not  a  very  pleas 
ant  duty.  At  the  door  were  two  sentinels,  with  loaded  pieces 
and  bayonets  fixed.  The  officer  on  duty,  with  the  clerk,  would 
go  into  the  room,  have  all  the  prisoners  arranged  on  one  side  of 
the  room;  and  then,  as  the  clerk  called  the  roll,  the  officer  would 
see  that  each  man,  on  answering  to  his  name,  stepped  out,  and 
passed  to  the  other  side.  The  ugly  glances,  the  character  of  the 
prisoners,  the  slight  guard,  were  circumstances  which  did  not 
tend  to  heighten  the  pleasure  of  roll-call  in  this  department. 
Many  will  remember  one  man,  held  for  murder,  Giacomi  An- 
tonelli,  who  made  three  attempts  to  take  the  lives  of  prisoners. 
Such  desperadoes  served  to  keep  the  officers  and  men  on  the 
alert.  The  Central  Guard-House  being  only  a  prison  for  deten- 


116  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

tion  of  arrested  parties,  we  did  not,  except  by  accident  or 
neglect,  have  prisoners  with  us  for  a  long  time ;  hence  attempts 
to  escape  were  not  very  frequent,  or  very  desperate,  although 
some  were  made. 

Room  No.  1  looked  out  on  the  avenue :  and  friends  of  parties 
confined  would  sometimes,  although  warned  to  keep  away,  make 
signs  to  those  inside ;  this  usually  resulted  in  the  outside  man 
or  woman  taking  a  day  or  two  inside,  a  proceeding  which  taught 
them  the  foolishness  of  disobeying  orders. 

Lieut.  Berry  was  in  command  at  the  Central  Guard-House 
some  six  months,  and,  while  there,  was  commissioned  captain  of 
Company  H. 

A  single  incident  in  connection  with  the  Central  Guard-House 
well  illustrates  the  quality  of  the  service  rendered  by  the  Four 
teenth  in  Washington.  One  morning,  when  the  general  ar 
raignment  took  place  of  all  the  prisoners  captured  by  the  patrols 
during  the  preceding  twenty-four  hours,  the  long  list  was 
smoothly  disposed  of  until  an  "  ugly  drunk  "  was  reached,  a 
vicious  specimen  of  a  boy  in  blue.  Sergt.  A.  B.  Colburn  of 
Company  F  was  in  charge  of  the  squad  of  prisoners.  When  he 
reached  the  one  in  question,  he  ordered  him  to  give  up  his 
valuables  for  record  and  safe-keeping.  The  prisoner  insolently 
refused.  After  a  second  command  and  a  more  emphatic  defi 
ance,  the  sergeant  reached  down  into  the  culprit's  pockets, 
when  he  struck  the  sergeant  a  smart  blow.  Without  uttering 
a  word,  Sergt.  Colburn  seized  the  fellow  by  the  collar  with  one 
hand,  and  dashed  him  to  the  floor,  jerking  him  upon  his  feet 
again  before  he  could  know  what  the  performance  meant.  This 
sudden  discipline  was  so  effective  as  to  largely  neutralize  the 
"  commissary  whiskey,"  and  he  became  at  once  as  docile  as  a 
lamb.  While  the  duty  performed  at  the  Central  Guard-House 
does  not  constitute  a  very  bright  spot  in  the  experience  of  the 
Fourteenth,  it  was  certainly  an  interesting  experience.  When 
ordered  to  active  service,  the  prison  was  left  without  regret. 

One  of  the  stations  occupied  by  the  Fourteenth  was  that  at 
Benning's  Bridge  over  the  Eastern  Branch,  near  the  Navy  Yard. 


CAPT.  D.  A.  MACURDY. 


CAPT.  J.  N.  BRUCE. 


CAPT.  F.  M.  RHODES. 


LIEUT.  J.  W.  RUSSELL. 


r* 

.fcaiR** 


LIEUT.  G.  D.  RICHARDSON. 


LIEUT.  F.  WHEELER. 


LINE  OFFICERS: 


NAVY-YARD  BRIDGE.  117 

It  was  an  important  post,  holding  the  key  to  communication 
with  south-eastern  Maryland,  one  of  the  most  pestiferous  and 
rampant  sections  of  virtual  Rebeldom,  though  nominally  in  the 
Union.  Capt.  Hodgdon,  Lieut.  Hall,  and  other  officers  of  the 
regiment,  commanded  the  detachment. 

A  sharp  lookout  was  kept  here  for  contraband  goods,  espe 
cially  liquors ;  as  a  cavalry-camp  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
offered  a  ready  market  for  whiskey,  and  the  prices  paid  rendered 
the  trade  profitable.  All  sorts  of  stratagems  were  resorted  to 
by  the  smugglers.  Loaves  of  bread  were  hollowed  to  contain 
canteens,  and  demijohns  were  frequently  concealed  in  loads  of 
stable  manure :  these  were  detected  by  means  of  a  long  sword, 
used  as  a  probe.  One  Irish  woman  was  captured  with  about 
five  gallons  of  whiskey  suspended  in  canteens  from  her  belt,  and 
in  bottles  in  a  number  of  pockets.  Her  load  was  so  heavy  that 
her  walk  led  to  her  detection.  One  sergeant  of  Company  B 
became  so  expert  in  searching  for  liquor,  that  it  was  a  shrewd 
smuggler  who  could  pass  him  with  even  a  pint  bottle.  No  one 
was  allowed  to  cross  the  bridge  without  passes.  This  is  the 
bridge  crossed  by  Booth  after  his  assassination  of  President 
Lincoln. 

May  27  a  detachment  from  Companies  C  and  F,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieut.  Fosgate,  entered  upon  guard-duty  at  G-street 
Wharf,  at  the  west  side  of  the  city,  directly  opposite  the 
grounds  of  the  celebrated  Arlington  House.  This  wharf  was 
the  northerly  government  landing,  about  one  mile  above  Long 
Bridge,  and  was  used  by  the  commissary  department.  The 
quarters  of  the  men  were  in  a  low,  long  building  at  the  water's 
edge  ;  and  such  quarters  !  Immense  wharf-rats  and  every  breed 
and  style  of  rats,  also  all  imaginable  species  of  active  vermin, 
enlivened  the  tedium  of  guarding  great  warehouses  of  hard 
tack,  beef,  and  pork.  When  the  quarters  were  measurably 
cleaned  and  made  tolerable,  the  little  detachment  at  G-street 
Wharf  settled  down  to  a  rather  enjoyable  service,  the  com 
mander  being  genial  and  accommodating,  so  that  the  men,  while 
held  strictly  to  the  performance  of  duty,  were  granted  many 
pleasant  favors.  Sergt.  A.  B.  Colburn  of  Company  F  was, 


118  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

during  a  portion  of  the  time,  sergeant  of  the  guard  at  that  post. 
The  detachment  performed  duty  at  this  wharf  until  fall. 

June  7  Lieut.  Berry  and  Sergt.  S.  L.  Gerould,  with  the  ne 
cessary  guard,  made  a  trip  to  Philadelphia,  guarding  twenty 
prisoners,  and  delivering  them  safely,  beside  making  of  it  an 
agreeable  excursion. 

It  was  observed  by  the  Washington  authorities,  that  provost 
guard-duty  was  being  done  by  the  Fourteenth  in  a  manner  not 
previously  witnessed ;  and  the  reliability  of  the  men  was  highly 
appreciated.  Smuggling  was  almost  wholly  stopped;  and, 
when  ten  picked  men  from  the  regiment  were  put  into  citizen's 
clothes  as  special  detectives,  the  results  they  attained  were 
entirely  satisfactory.  One  notable  feature  of  the  regiment's 
life  in  Washington  was  the  entire  absence  of  any  camp-guard, 
save  that  in  front  of  headquarters  and  over  the  commissary 
stores,  throughout  the  entire  term  of  its  service  in  that  city. 
There  was  every  temptation,  in  such  a  city  at  such  a  period, 
to  the  men ;  but  the  officers  had  very  little  trouble  with  un 
authorized  absences  from  camp. 

Passes  were  granted  as  freely  as  the  necessities  of  the  service 
would  permit,  each  soldier  being  required  to  report  at  head 
quarters  on  his  return.  Who  can  forget  the  drunken  gravity 
and  remarkable  erectness  and  assumed  steadiness  of  a  few  fa 
miliar  characters  as  they  marched  up  to  the  colonel's  tent  to 
report?  They  had  very  inartistically  mixed  Loeffler's  lager 
and  commissary  whiskey ;  but  they  wanted  the  colonel  to  under 
stand  that  they  had  returned  sober,  and  fit  for  duty. 

The  Fourteenth  was  drawn  into  the  outer  circle  of  the  great 
maelstrom  of  1863,  whose  centre  was  set  to  seething  by  the 
Rebel  commander  in  his  northward  movement  for  one  grand 
ingulfment  of  the  Union  cause.  He  made  no  failure  in  the 
perfecting  of  his  whirlpool,  but  the  ship  which  finally  plunged 
into  it  was  not  the  one  he  planned  for. 

Early  in  June,  Gen.  Lee  organized  his  celebrated  invasion  of 
the  free  States.  On  the  13th  Swell's  and  Longstreet's  corps 
were  well  into  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  moving  from  Warrenton 
Junction  through  Manassas  Gap.  In  fact,  the  entire  Rebel 


RAID   ON   WASHINGTON.  119 

army  of  Northern  Virginia,  consisting  of  ninety-one  thousand 
infantry,  twelve  thousand  cavalry,  and  the  finest  complement 
of  field-artillery  that  was  ever  mustered  by  any  army  during 
the  war.  Gen.  Hooker,  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  moved 
northward,  east  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  keeping  his  army  between 
Lee  and  the  city  of  Washington  ;  but  he  was  nearly  a  week 
behind  his  wily  foe. 

To  confront  Lee,  Hooker,  after  drawing  from  Gen.  Heintzel- 
man,  in  the  defences  of  Washington,  all  but  eleven  thousand 
efficient  men,  had  barely  a  hundred  thousand  fit  for  duty.  The 
cause  of  the  Union  and  the  faith  of  the  people  touched  nearer 
down  to  utter  hopelessness  during  the  week  preceding  the  4th 
of  July,  1863,  than  at  any  other  period  of  the  war.  The  heroic 
but  oft-beaten  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  being  led  on  a  wild- 
goose  chase  by  Lee,  and  was  exerting  its  supreme  energy  to 
cover  Washington  and  Baltimore ;  Milroy,  annihilated  at  Win 
chester,  put  the  climax  upon  the  defeats  of  Fredericksburg  and 
Chancellorsville ;  Hooker  displaced  by  Meade  in  the  hour  of  a 
fearful  emergency;  Grant  in  the  toils  of  Pemberton  and  the 
treacherous  bayous  at  Vicksburg ;  Banks  helpless  before  Port 
Hudson ;  and  Rosecrans  idle  for  six  months  in  Middle  Tennessee, 
—  such  was  the  military  position  which  pressed  on  the  anxious 
heart  of  President  Lincoln  and  upon  a  despondent  North 
throughout  that  dreadful  week. 

Hooker  crossed  the  Potomac  near  Edward's  Ferry,  and,  when 
he  could  not  induce  Halleck  to  give  him  the  eleven  thousand 
men  on  Maryland  Heights,  resigned  his  command ;  Gen.  Meade 
succeeding  him.  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  whose  audacity  was  his  chief 
element  of  success,  crossed  the  Potomac,  northward,  at  Seneca, 
the  28th,  thus  putting  his  small  cavalry  force  between  the 
Union  army  and  Washington,  building  his  camp-fires  within 
sight  of  that  city. 

A  little  after  midnight,  on  the  29th,  the  Fourteenth  was  hur 
ried  up  to  Fort  Stevens,  north  of  the  city,  to  repel  the  threat 
ened  raid  on  Washington ;  but,  if  such  a  move  was  ever  seriously 
contemplated,  it  was  quickly  abandoned.  The  Fourteenth  lay 
in  line  of  battle  until  daylight,  and  was  then  marched  back  to 


120  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

camp.  Before  the  regiment  started  upon  its  return,  Capt. 
Hodgdon  accosted  the  colonel,  inquiring  how  he  had  rested  the 
preceding  night.  The  colonel  replied,  "  Not  very  well :  I  had 
to  sleep  in  a  dry-goods  box,  and  it  was  about  four  inches  too 
short." 

Since  the  war,  reports  have  appeared  in  the  newspapers  of  a 
conspiracy  to  capture  Washington  about  this  time.  The  story 
was  sensational  in  some  of  its  particulars,  positively  false  in 
others,  and  altogether  improbable  as  told.  The  statement,  that 
Secretary  Stanton  was  entirely 'ignorant  of  the  plot,  accompa 
nied  by  the  admission  that  Baker's  detectives  —  Baker  was  but 
Stanton's  secret  agent  —  exposed  the  conspiracy,  brings  suspi 
cion  upon  the  entire  account. 

In  the  latter  part  of  June,  Lieut.  C.  P.  Hall  was  detailed  in 
charge  of  one  division  of  the  Invalid  Detachment,  and  Lieut. 
Holbrook  of  Company  B  in  charge  of  another.  The  soldiers 
in  the'  hospitals  were  assigned  to  these  detachments  as  soon  as 
they  were  able  to  do  light  duty,  —  nursing,  guarding  around 
hospitals,  driving  ambulances,  etc.,  and  remained  in  them  until 
ready  to  enter  the  field  again.  Lieut.  Hall's  division,  number 
ing  from  four  hundred  to  six  hundred  and  fifty,  included  five 
hospitals.  His  duties  comprised  the  making-out  of  daily  reports 
from  all  the  hospitals  under  his  charge,  issuing  of  passes  to  the 
city,  clothing,  etc.  Some  of  the  men  in  this  detachment  had 
not  been  with  their  regiments  for  months,  and  there  were  long 
arrears  of  pay  due  them.  Although  it  was  not  a  part  of  his 
work,  Lieut.  Hall  performed  a  great  deal  of  arduous  labor  in 
looking  up  the  pay-rolls,  etc.,  and  getting  the  pay  for  the  men, 
—  a  service  which  was  none  the  less  valuable  because  it  was 
unrecognized  and  unrewarded. 

July  2  Lieut.  Tolman,  with  twenty-five  men,  started  down 
the  Potomac  on  the  steamer  "  Diamond  State,"  with  a  squad  of 
deserters  in  irons.  These  men,  recreant  members  of  various 
Union  regiments,  had  been  court-martialled  and  sentenced, 
mostly  to  hard  labor  in  the  Rip-Raps,  then  the  common  prison 
of  Union  soldier  criminals.  The  weather  was  fine,  the  escape 
from  the  city  heat  refreshing,  and  every  point  of  interest  was 


DOWN   THE  POTOMAC.  121 

viewed  with  zest  and  enjoyment.  To  every  boy  in  blue,  save 
those  in  irons  between  decks,  this  trip  down  the  historic  Poto 
mac  was  one  of  the  most  delicious  expeditions  of  their  lives. 
Past  Alexandria,  where  the  gallant  Ellsworth  was  shot  by  a 
cowardly  Southern  traitor;  sweeping  round  the  bend  at  Fort 
Washington ;  then,  with  solemn  toll  of  bell,  sailing  by  Mount 
Vernon  and  the  tomb  of  Washington ;  meeting  government  ves 
sels  of  every  style  and  lading ;  to  and  away  from  Aquia  Creek, 
the  great  base  of  supplies  for  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  while 
feeling  after  the  back-bone  of  the  Rebellion ;  leaving  Point 
Lookout  well  on  the  port-bow  —  the  celebrated  camp  for  Rebel 
prisoners  of  war,  and  the  point  where  the  Potomac  empties  into 
the  Chesapeake,  —  every  bend  and  fresh  phase  of  landscape  was 
a  revelation  of  some  striking  scene  in  the  sublime  panorama  of 
the  civil  war,  which  never  ceased  to  fill  with  wonder  the  minds 
of  those  who  were  most  intimately  connected  with  its  active 
operations. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  3d,  the  dark  walls  of  Fortress 
Monroe  loomed  up ;  but  it  was  too  late  to  gain  admission  to  the 
fort  that  night,  so  the  steamer  anchored  in  the  offing.  On  the 
morning  of  July  4  the  detachment  of  the  Fourteenth  entered 
the  celebrated  fortress,  and  delivered  up  its  manacled  charge. 
It  was  the  first  anniversary  of  American  independence  which 
those  volunteers  had  passed  in  the  service  of  their  country,  and 
it  was  one  of  the  most  impressive  they  had  ever  experienced. 
The  thunder-peals  of  the  great  cannon  at  noon,  as  the  national 
salute  was  fired ;  the  parade  of  the  exquisitely  dressed  and 
accoutred  regulars ;  the  ponderous  casemates ;  the  monster 
guns  mounted  en  barbette ;  the  massive  walls  of  this  noted 
monument  of  the  Old  Dominion,  —  every  feature  of  the  military 
and  naval  landscape,  spread  out  from  Capes  Charles  and  Henry 
to  Hampton  Roads,  Newport  News,  and  Norfolk,  was  calculated 
to  impress  and  thrill  the  patriotic  soldier. 

The  luxuries  of  life  were  indulged  in  that  day,  surf-bathing 
of  the  rarest  quality  being  among  the  reminiscences  of  the 
Independence  Day  cherished  by  the  members  of  the  expedi 
tion.  Their  pleasure  would  have  been  enhanced  to  the  level  of 


122  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

ecstasy  could  they  Lave  heard  the  booming  of  the  guns  at 
Vicksburg,  —  surrendered  that  day,  —  and  the  wild  shouts  re 
sounding  over  Cemeterjr  Hill  in  Gettysburg,  where  the  three- 
days'  desperate  conflict  was  at  that  very  hour  culminating  in  a 
triumph  which  was  a  blow  at  treason  as  significant  of  final  doom 
as  it  was  of  immediate  disaster. 

At  five  o'clock  that  evening  the  detachment  went  on  board 
an  elegant  and  fast  steamer  for  Baltimore ;  the  boat  arriving 
in  the  Monumental  City  early  Sunday  morning,  July  5.  There 
the  detachment  remained  all  day,  a  portion  of  the  men  attend 
ing  church,  while  the  remainder  occupied  the  railroad  station. 
At  six  o'clock  P.M.  the  train  was  boarded ;  and  the  forty-mile 
run  was  made  in  two  hours,  the  men  arriving  in  camp  in  season 
for  the  melodies  of  tattoo. 

In  July,  Capt.  Hodgdon  was  detailed  with  a  guard  of  about 
thirty  men  to  take  a  number  of  prisoners,  —  Union  soldiers, — 
mostly  deserters,  to  their  regiments  at  the  front.  They  were 
confined  at  Georgetown.  One  man,  a  large,  powerful  fellow, 
was  pointed  out  to  the  captain  as  having  been  sent  to  the  front 
three  times,  but  always  managing  to  make  his  escape.  He  was 
called  out,  and  informed  that  he  had  better  be  prepared  for 
death,  as  his  time  would  be  short  if  he  attempted  to  leave  the 
ranks.  Orders  were  given  to  shoot  him  if  he  attempted  to 
desert.  He  was  delivered  safely  at  Brandy  Station. 

Arriving  at  Alexandria  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning 
on  the  return  trip,  application  was  made  at  the  quartermaster  s 
department  for  transportation  to  Washington.  Being  offered 
some  "  box-cars  "  standing  on  the  track,  in  a  filthy  condition, 
having  been  used  to  transport  cattle,  the  captain  indignantly 
replied,  "Perhaps  you  did  not  fully  comprehend  my  order. 
These  are  not  cattle,  but  men,  and  must  have  transportation 
as  such."  He  was  finally  provided  with  platform-cars ;  and,  as 
the  night  was  warm  and  the  distance  short,  the  ride  was  not 
uncomfortable. 

The  duty  of  the  Fourteenth,  while  in  Washington,  was  not 
only  varied,  but  widely  extended.  Different  detachments  were 
sent  to  New  Hampshire  on  recruiting-duty,  having  charge  there 


RECRUITING  IN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.  123 

of  enlisted  recruits  as  well  as  conscripts  and  substitutes  for 
nearly  all  of  the  New-Hampshire  regiments.  '  The  emergencies 
of  a  protracted  struggle  had  necessitated  a  draft :  and  a  reckless, 
almost  worthless,  element  was  being  enlisted  into  the  Union 
army,  known  as  bounty-jumpers ;  the  substitutes  for  drafted  men 
being  largely  of  the  same  character.  July  20  Lieut.  Fosgate 
of  F,  and  Sergt.  Stowell  of  I,  with  five  or  six  men,  proceeded 
to  Concord,  to  the  military  rendezvous.  The  personnel  of  the 
detachment  was  changed  at  different  times  during  its  service  ; 
Lieut.  Sargent  relieving  Lieut.  Fosgate,  and  Sergt.  Martin  of  F 
being  also  detailed  for  that  duty.  This  detail  was  considered 
especially  fortunate,  as  the  detachment  was  in  its  native  State, 
and  short  furloughs  for  visiting  home  were  granted.  This 
detail  not  only  had  general  charge  of  the  recruiting  rendez 
vous,  but  proceeded  to  different  parts  of  the  country  in  charge 
of  squads  of  recruits  for  nearly  all  of  the  New-Hampshire  regi 
ments  in  the  field. 

August  26  the  first  squad  of  conscripts  arrived  in  Concord. 
September  9  Sergt.  Stowell  took  the  first  detachment  of  these 
recruits  to  Boston,  en  route  for  the  front.  Of  course  the  men 
entered  the  service,  many  of  them,  with  the  intention  of  desert 
ing.  Of  the  first  two  who  attempted  it  by  jumping  from  the 
train,  one  was  shot  and  the  other  escaped.  During  one  trip  on 
the  "  Forest  City  "  to  Morris  Island  with  nine  hundred  recruits 
on  board,  a  desperate  attempt  was  made  to  burn  the  steamer. 
December  14  a  large  squad  was  taken  to  Covington,  Ky.  When 
the  recruits  were  sent  to  the  front  in  charge  of  these  picked 
guards,  the  loss  from  desertion  was  comparatively  small :  it  was 
under  escort  of  the  Invalid  Corps  that  the  wholesale  stampedes 
occurred.  January  1,  1864,  another  detachment  went  to  Ken 
tucky,  in  charge  of  Fourteenth  men,  but  with  Invalid-Corps 
guards.  The  next  morning  after  the  arrival,  more  than  one 
hundred  had  decamped,  to  earn  another  substitute  bounty. 
Other  trips  were  made  to  Boston,  New  York,  Fortress  Monroe, 
and  Paris,  Ky.  January  26  the  rendezvous  was  broken  up,  and 
on  February  1  the  Fourteenth  detachment  reported  in  camp. 
One  of  the  most  pretentious  expeditions  undertaken  by  the 


124  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Fourteenth  while  in  Washington  was  that  to  the  Rebel  prison 
ers'  camp  on  Johnson's  Island  in  the  harbor  of  Sandusky,  O.,  on 
Lake  Erie.  Major  Duncan,  with  a  detail  of  two  hundred  men 
from  the  regiment,  started  from  Washington  on  July  31,  1863, 
with  a  hundred  and  ten  Rebel  officers,  captured  at  Gettys 
burg  and  adjacent  points  of  conflict.  The  expedition  proceeded 
via  Baltimore;  and  at  midnight  of  the  first  day,  near  York, 
Penn.,  an  accident  occurred,  which  came  alarmingly  near  to  an 
escapade  of  all  the  prisoners,  and  a  serious  catastrophe  to  all  on 
board  the  train.  Soon  after  leaving  a  station,  the  train  left  the 
track  because  of  a  turned  switch :  and  but  for  the  fact  that  it 
had  not  attained  full  headway,  a  frightful  accident  must  have 
resulted,  as  the  locomotive  was  stopped  on  the  verge  of  a  high 
embankment  with  a  rocky  stream-bed  below.  The  writer  was 
aroused  by  being  unceremoniously  hurled  head  first  against  the 
saloon  partition  ;  and,  with  several  thumps  and  more  shakes,  the 
train  came  to  a  halt.  In  the  confusion  of  the  moment  half  of 
the  prisoners  might  have  escaped  into  the  darkness;  but,  by 
appearances,  few  had  any  inclinations  in  that  direction :  and 
Pennsylvania  was  a  poor  State  for  escaped  Rebel  officers.  Had 
the  affair  been  located  back  in  Maryland,  a  goodly  number  of 
those  leaders  of  Southern  chivalry  would  never  have  seen  San- 
dusky  in  that  party.  The  derailed  train  lay  helpless  until  morn 
ing,  the  guards  having  been  promptly  formed  in  a  cordon  about 
the  cars. 

The  valley  of  the  Susquehanna  roused  the  enthusiasm  of 
guards  and  captives.  Harrisburg  and  contiguous  scenery,  with 
all  the  celebrated  landscapes  throughout  the  length  of  the  Key 
stone  State,  were  passed  and  admired  in  turn.  The  famous 
horse-shoe  bend  among  the  mountains  furnished  all  the  excite 
ment  which  could  be  desired ;  and  it  was  the  general  opinion, 
that  an  experience  of  twenty-seven  miles  in  thirty-one  minutes, 
whirling  round  bends  with  chasms  hundreds  of  feet  deep  gap 
ing  in  awful  precipices  at  their  feet,  is  something  never  to  be 
encored.  Saturday  night,  the  1st  of  August,  the  expedition 
plunged  into  a  hill- walled  basin,  and  a  dense  bank  of  smoke  and 
soot,  —  called  Pittsburg.  A  pleasant  feature  of  our  visit  to  that 


THE  IMMORTAL   COZZENS.  125 

city  was  the  immediate  departure.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
2d  the  ultimate  destination  was  reached :  and,  with  an  impro 
vised  escort  and  local  music,  the  line  was  formed ;  the  column 
marched  to  the  boat  plying  to  the  island,  with  all  Sandusky 
crowding  the  streets  to  enjoy  the  great  show. 

The  briefest  sort  of  a  stop  was  made  on  the  island ;  the  pris 
oners  were  turned  over ;  and  the  detachment  at  once  started  on 
its  return  trip,  which  was  accomplished  with  speed  and  safety ; 
Camp  Adirondack  being  reached  late  Monday  night,  August  8. 
The  commander  complimented  the  men  on  the  excellent  disci 
pline  maintained  throughout  the  journey. 

The  months  of  July  and  August  told  severely  on  the  health 
of  the  regiment;  two  of  the  best  men  in  Company  F — D.  T. 
Swan  and  H.  J.  McClenning  —  dying  in  one  week  of  typhoid 
fever  ;  and  other  companies  suffered  as  severely.  The  remarka 
ble  cleanliness  maintained  throughout  the  camp  and  by  the  men 
personally  went  far  to  secure  the  general  health,  and  render 
possible  the  uniform  good  showing  of  the  morning  reports. 

There  were  volunteer  organizations  which  boasted  of  their 
"  daughter  of  the  regiment."  In  some  regiments  there  were  pet 
drummer-boys  ;  others  had  dogs  ;  some  cherished  cats,  and  even 
squirrels.  The  most  famous  regimental  pet,  probably,  was 
"Old  Abe,"  the  celebrated  eagle  of  the  Eighth  Wis.  Una 
bashed  by  the  illustrious  array,  the  Fourteenth  boldly  asserts 
its  pre-eminence.  What  one  among  the  grand  enumeration  of 
Union  battalions  can  boast  of  its  "  Cozzens  "  ? 

Cozzens  was  a  character.  Not  simply  singular,  but  sui  generis. 
And  still  we  feel  that  the  Latin,  and,  in  fact,  all  dead  and  live 
languages,  are  inadequate  to  locate  Cozzens.  His  appearance 
would  not  indicate  ability  sufficient  to  tell  the  difference  be 
tween  hard-tack  and  soft  bread,  but  appearances  were  never 
more  radically  at  fault.  This  Cozzens  was  smart  enough  to 
fool  the  colonel,  dupe  the  lieutenant-colonel,  delude  the  major, 
and  completely  obfuscate  the  adjutant;  and,  as  though  that  was 
not  a  circumstance  in  his  line,  he  succeeded  in  cheating  the 
whole  regiment  by  his  adroit  and  original  tactics. 


126  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Cozzens  carried  his  greatness  in  the  seed,  so  to  speak,  for 
some  time  after  the  Fourteenth  entered  the  service.  We  can 
now  discern  that  he  was  waiting  for  the  precise  fructifying  soil 
essential  to  such  a  germination.  He  got  along  as  far  as  the 
plant  stage  in  Poolesville,  but  his  audacious  rascality  never 
found  an  atmosphere  for  full  bloom  until  Washington  was 
reached.  That  highly  moral  city,  abounding  in  masculine  tem 
perance  and  female  virtue,  was  a  very  garden  of  Eden  to 
Cozzens ;  but  he  entered  a  good  while  after  the  fall,  and  the 
number  of  flaming  swords  was  not  of  the  slightest  consequence 
to  Cozzens.  If  he  had  any  brass  in  his  constitution,  —  and  his 
manoeuvres  were  the  brassiest  of  all  brassy,  —  it  was  somehow 
precipitated  internally ;  as  that  metal,  which  is  supposed  to  ap 
pertain  chiefly  to  insurance  agents  and  drummers,  was,  in  his 
case,  so  deftly  overlaid  with  a  human-clay  coating  of  insignifi 
cant  modesty,  that  no  one  could  suspect  such  a  characterless 
exterior  of  being  the  clothing  of  so  fertile  an  imagination  and 
the  disguise  of  such  disorderly  purposes. 

One  of  Dickens's  characters,  Joey  Bagstock,  in  delineating 
himself  to  Mrs.  Skewton,  exactly  describes  the  character  hero 
of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment.  "  He's  tough,  ma'am,  tough,  is 
J.  B.  Tough,  and  de-vil-ish  sly."  There  was  nothing  so  irk 
some  to  Cozzens  as  the  limitations  of  a  regimental  camp.  He 
appeared  to  delight  in  a  wide  range  of  thought,  observation,  and 
—  creature  comforts. 

The  heroic  qualities  in  Cozzens's  organization  always  shone 
forth  outside  of  military  rules,  regulations,  and  duties.  He  was 
an  active  man,  but  never  active  in  the  ranks.  If  a  detail  for 
severe  duty  was  being  made,  Cozzens  was  never  to  be  found. 
He  early  learned  that  the  sick  dodge  was  unreliable,  and  entirely 
unworthy  of  the  Cozzen  genius.  He  had  a  very  simple  method  of 
dodging  the  official  lightning,  —  he  wasn't  there  when  it  struck. 
Probably,  however,  he  was  able  to  recall  one  notable  exception 
to  the  above  statement.  We  do  not  affirm  that  Cozzens  was 
specially  the  pet,  or  in  any  sense  the  hero,  of  the  regiment ;  yet 
he  was  more  conspicuous  than  the  Fourteenth's  bravest  ones, 
and  he  received  more  extraordinary  attentions  from  the  principal 
officers  than  any  universal  pet  could  even  aspire  to. 


A   BUMMER'S    TRICKS.  127 

There  was  an  air  of  mystery  around  much  of  Cozzens's  manoeu 
vring  ;  and  he  never  rose  to  the  level  of  doing  a  brilliant  act, 
save  as  the  brilliancy  consisted  wholly  in  the  admirable  secrecy 
of  a  move  which  would  have  been  of  no  account  whatever  if 
another  had  done  it  openly.  Before  the  regiment  came  to 
Washington,  Cozzens  had  found  it  positively  necessary  to  be 
absent  from  camp  with  suspicious  frequency ;  and  he  curiously 
enough  often  remained  away  over  night.  At  one  time  he  was 
supposed  to  have  either  deserted,  or  been  murdered  by  bush 
whackers  ;  and  there  was  enough  of  mild  interest  in  his  fate  to 
occasion  some  little  discussion  as  to  the  alternative  probabilities. 
But  Cozzens  turned  up  safely  —  that  was  one  of  his  tricks  ;  and 
to  curious  inquiries  he  always  replied,  "  None  of  your  business.'' 
He  was  no  blabber,  —  revealed  no  secrets.  To  the  ordinary 
official  investigator  he  was  ready  with,  "  I  was  out  on  private 
business."  While  that  was  indisputably  true,  it  was  not  entirely 
satisfactory  to  the  relentless  powers  supreme.  When  Cozzens 
got  really  down  to  hard  pan,  and  turned  his  innermost  heart 
inside  out  before  his  captain,  the  whole  affair  was  stripped  of 
mystery,  and  reduced  to  the  tamest  commonplace.  He  had 
merely  absented  himself  from  camp  to  see  his  cousin.  It  was  a 
singular  circumstance,  perhaps,  that  his  cousin  should  have 
resided  just  where  he  was  handiest  to  the  Poolesville  camp  ;  but 
every  thing  was  explained,  and  Cozzens  was  no  longer  a  sphinx. 
And  yet  one  side  of  his  genius  lay  in  his  secretiveness. 

In  contemplating  this  character  of  the  regiment,  it  may  be 
inferred  from  previous  statements  that  Cozzens  had  his  weak 
nesses.  Indeed,  an  unbiassed  judgment  might  lean  toward  the 
theory  that  he  was  a  very  vulgar  fraction,  and  always  engaged 
in  reducing  himself  to  his  lowest  terms  without  once  making 
an  error  in  his  calculations.  Yes,  Cozzens  may  have  had  h's 
weaknesses ;  but  no  one  can  justly  charge  him  with  any  vices, 
for  how  can  that  be  termed  a  vice  which  is  in  perfect  harmony 
with  one's  moral  nature? 

Cozzens  was  fond  of  the  flowing  bowl ;  but  he  always  deferred 
to  morality  in  the  matter  of  .example,  and  invariably  absented 
himself  from  his  comrades,  and  rejoiced  in  solitary  conviviality. 


128  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

He  had  haunts  of  his  own ;  and,  if  he  mated  at  all  in  his  peculiar 
glee,  that  mate  was  110  comrade  in  arms.  Cozzens  never  seemed 
happy  when  in  camp.  An  exception  must  be  noted  to  the 
statements  in  this  paragraph.  Cozzens  did  have  a  companion, 
and  a  most  congenial  one.  It  was  Kamet.  Now,  Kamet  was 
sent  to  watch  Cozzens ;  and  their  spirits  so  flowed  together  — 
there  were  after-evidences  of  a  remarkable  flow  of  spirit  —  that 
Kamet  returned  to  camp,  and  reported  that  his  friend  was  all 
right. 

He  was  the  recognized  butt  and  universal  target  all  along  the 
line,  from  A  to  G ;  and  the  gravest  member  of  the  Fourteenth, 
who  frowned  upon  all  levity,  would  venture  to  poke  fun  at 
Cozzens.  He  was  easily  angered,  and  his  puerile  sputterings 
and  dwarfed  profanity  only  made  more  apparent  his  comical 
littleness.  Soon  after  the  regiment  arrived  in  Washington, 
Cozzens  began  to  develop  his  remarkable  strategy.  He  was 
arraigned  for  absence  without  leave.  He  persisted.  He  was 
put  upon  extra  duty.  To  teach  an  army  mule  melody  would 
have  been  as  profitable  as  the  imposition  of  double  duty  upon 
Cozzens.  He  was  taken  to  the  Central  Guard-House,  and  given 
one  of  those  cooling  baths  with  the  hydrant  at  full  head.  He 
yelled  like  a  man  in  death  agony,  and  —  sneaked  out  of  camp 
the  next  night. 

Shakspeare  makes  Hamlet  affirm  his  willingness  to  swallow 
a  crocodile  in  proof  of  his  love  for  Ophelia.  This  extraordinary 
test  is  equalled,  if  not  surpassed,  by  the  feats  which  Cozzens 
would  perform  in  order  to  get  drunk  in  his  own  unique  way. 
The  time  soon  came  when  by  no  common  artifice  or  trick  could 
he  get  down  to  the  city.  But  he  was  equal  to  the  emergency. 
The  startling  news  flew  through  the  camp  that  Cozzens  was 
married,  and  his  wife  was  in  the  city.  The  rumor  did  not, 
apparently,  originate  with  our  hero.  Yet  he  soon  secured  a 
pass  to  visit  his  wife.  Said  pass  was  given  on  condition  that  he 
should  return  on  time  and  sober.  Of  course  he  did  neither, 
though  it  was  greatly  to  his  credit  that  he  usually  was  in  the 
diminuendo  of  a  carousal  when  he  appeared  before  the  colonel's 
tent. 


A    REMARKABLE   FUNERAL.  129 

Having  a  wife  soon  ceased  to  be  a  trump-card  with  Cozzens. 
To  change  the  figure,  he  advanced  his  second  line  ;  and  the 
assault  was  successful.  He  must  go  to  the  city,  for  his  wife  was 
sick,  and  had  sent  for  him.  In  tears  and  piteous  pleading  he 
stood  before  the  colonel,  and  begged  for  leave  to  go.  Col.  Wil 
son  was  not  a  hard-hearted  man,  and  he  would  not  separate 
husband  and  wife  in  a  time  of  such  affliction.  Cozzens  got  his 
pass ;  and  he  got  a  good  many  of  them  for  the  next  month,  for 
his  wife  grew  no  better :  and  his  prolonged  absences  were  some 
what  pardonable  under  the  circumstances.  From  a  host  of 
sympathizing  comrades  he  was  met  at  every  turn  with  inquiries 
as  to  his  wife's  condition.  But  there  is  a  limit  to  a  wife's  allow 
able  illness  in  time  of  war ;  at  least,  that  was  the  conclusion  of 
the  officers  of  the  Fourteenth.  Cozzens's  devoted  ministrations 
to  his  sick  wife  were  summarily  stopped. 

Now  came  the  crucial  hour  in  Cozzens's  military  career. 
Would  he  succumb  ?  Not  a  bit  of  it !  He  ordered  up  his  re 
serves,  and  triumphed.  Once  more  he  stood  before  headquarters, 
and  asked  for  a  pass.  It  was  peremptorily  refused.  His  counte 
nance  was  solemn.  It  was  manifest  that  he  was  in  deep  grief. 
He  informed  the  colonel  in  broken  sentences  that  his  poor  wife 
was  dead,  and  her  funeral  was  set  for  that  afternoon ;  and  he 
thought  it  rather  hard  not  to  be  able  to  pay  the  last  sad  honors 
to  her.  The  colonel  felt  so  too,  and  Cozzens  marched  out  of 
camp.  It  took  him  three  days  to  bury  his  wife ;  and  he  had 
evidently  struggled  hard  to  bury  or  drown  his  grief,  and  he 
looked  as  though  he  had  taken  poor  whiskey  enough  to  drown 
himself.  Cozzens  was  arrested,  and  an  investigation  followed. 
It  was  ascertained,  first,  that  Cozzens  did  not  attend  his  wife's 
funeral  at  all ;  second,  his  wife  was  not  dead ;  third,  she  was 
not  even  sick;  fourth,  he  had  no  wife  in  the  city  or  anywhere 
else. 

And  still,  as  a  funeral  had  been  planned  for,  Adjutant  Gardi 
ner  thought  there  should  be  one,  and  Cozzens  should  be  chief 
mourner.  A  procession  was  organized ;  the  dejected  widower 
was  trimmed  with  crape  ;  the  scraggiest  mule  in  the  corral  was 
brought  out,  and  bedecked  in  the  same  mourning  symbols ;  Coz- 


130  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

zens,  with  hands  pinioned  behind,  was  tied  on  the  mule's  bare 
back,  his  face  toward  the  animal's  tail ;  a  suitable  placard 
covered  the  mourner's  back.  Behind  him  was  a  corporal's 
guard  marching  at  reverse  arms,  while  the  fife  and  drum 
sounded  out  the  significant  melody  of  the  Rogue's  March. 
Through  the  camp  for  an  hour  this  strangest  of  all  absurd  pro 
cessions  paraded,  the  conspicuous  mourner  receiving  many 
tender  tributes  of  the  popular  regard.  Cozzens's  spirit  was  not 
broken,  but  his  stock  in  trade  was  greatly  diminished.  He 
had  reached  the  zenith  of  his  glory,  and  thenceforth  sunk  to 
ward  the  level  of  the  commonplace. 

September  12  a  change  occurred  in  the  field  and  staff  of  the 
regiment :  Major  Duncan  having  resigned,  Adjutant  Gardiner 
was  promoted  to  be  major ;  while  the  position  of  adjutant  was 
for  some  time  vacant. 

On  the  17th  of  October  the  troops  about  Washington,  and  of 
course  throughout  the  country,  were  thrilled  by  the  call  of 
President  Lincoln  for  three  hundred  thousand  more  men  to 
swell  the  armies  of  the  Union.  It  was  an  evidence  of  the  un 
bending  determination  of  the  government  to  crush  the  power 
which  called  itself  a  Confederacy.  The  next  day  the  regiment 
was  inspected  by  Col.  Wilson,  and  the  day  closed  with  a  fine 
dress-parade. 

DRESS-PARADE. 

A  dress-parade  is  the  culminating  military  spectacle.  It  is 
the  poetry  of  tactics,  the  mathematical  perfection  of  soldierly 
display.  There  is  nothing  of  the  imposing  grandeur  of  an 
army-corps  review :  the  sublime  inspiration  of  the  battle-field, 
with  its  crashing  tumults  and  heroic  struggles,  is  not  even 
hinted  at,  save  as  the  portentous  steadiness  and  terrible  re 
serve  power,  masked  in  the  quietness  of  a  battalion  at  parade- 
rest,  may  suggest  the  lion  crouching  for  a  spring,  —  a  prophecy 
of  invincible  energy  yet  under  the  potent  check  of  discipline. 
But  there  is  a  rounded  completeness  in  the  spectacle  as  a  whole, 


DRESS-PARADE.  131 

a  charm  and  beauty  in  every  tributary  movement  arid  motion, 
which  is  surpassingly  attractive. 

This  parade  harmonizes  with  the  most  peaceful  rural  land 
scape,  and  is  inspiring  on  the  tented  field.  It  is  the  most  criti 
cal  test  of  military  efficiency  and  thorough  drill :  it  is  the  finest 
illustration  of  the  accuracy  of  tactical  results,  and  the  unity  of 
a  military  organization.  For  those  in  command  it  is  a  practical 
inspection  ;  and  for  all,  field  and  line  officers,  rank  and  file,  it 
is,  if  properly  conducted,  a  welcome  vesper  festival,  fittingly 
rounding  out  the  duties  of  the  day. 

But  there  are  elements  outside  the  regiment  itself  essential 
to  the  ideal  parade.  The  parade-ground  must  not  be  sand 
wiched  between  cramped  and  disagreeable  environments.  A 
pack  of  stray  dogs  and  half  a  dozen  woolly-headed  urchins  are 
not  spectators  of  an  inspiring  sort.  Nor  can  an  ideal  parade 
be  formed  on  the  finest  square  or  park  of  a  great  city  with 
thousands  of  observers  crowding  the  color-line,  pressing  the 
flanks,  and  generally  obstructing  the  formation  and  the  view. 
No  !  the  veteran  in  blue  beholds  the  brilliant  evolutions,  beauti 
ful  marching,  and  admirable  steadiness  of  crack  regiments 
among  the  militia  resulting  from  the  war ;  but  his  mind  reverts 
to  camps  and  campaigns  of  that  terribly  glorious  era  of  the  Re 
bellion,  and  the  grandest  pageants  of  later  times  lack  the  genu 
ine  flavor  of  those  inspiring  lines  of  battle  in  open  order,  when 
grasp  of  musket  muzzle  and  immobility  of  pose  brought  an 
entire  battalion  into  a  magnificent  and  ominous  oneness.  There 
is  a  fascination  in  every  stage  of  the  parade  we  describe,  from 
the  first  note  of  preparation  to  the  closing  tableaux. 

The  drummers  beat  first  the  musician's  call,  then  the  assem 
bly  on  the  color-line;  and  the  stereotyped  warning  of  the 
orderly-sergeant  follows,  "  Company  A  fall  in  for  dress-parade  I  " 
Then  there  are  brought  forth  the  white  gloves  and  the  bright 
ened  brasses  of  accoutrements;  boots  are  polished;  and  the 
doughty  warrior  issues  from  his  stockade  or  tent,  cleaned  up, 
and  respectable  in  attire  for  half  an  hour  in  the  day,  if  no  more. 
There  is  always  some  laggard  who  cannot  find  his  gun  or  belt 
or  some  other  item  of  equipment ;  then  there  is  the  inevitable 


133  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

dispute  for  position  on  the  left;  and  it  required  exactly  "three 
years  or  during  the  war"  to  convince  certain  of  our  country's 
defenders  that  somebody  must  stand  at  the  foot  and  in  the  rear 
rank.  From  our  own  and  adjacent  companies  come  the  "  One, 
two,  one,  two,"  of  the  "  count  twos,"  the  growling  bass  and 
piping  falsetto,  together  with  the  comic  emphasis  of  some  odd 
genius,  varying  the  monotony  of  the  proceeding. 

With  a  "  present  arms ! "  the  orderly  receives  the  captain, 
loses  his  temporary  importance,  and  steps  into  the  ranks. 

And  just  at  this  point  and  time  the  company  commander 
vindicates  himself  as  a  man,  a  martinet,  or  an  imbecile  in  uni 
form  ;  and  the  men  will  very  quickly  and  accurately  place  him. 
The  men  in  the  ranks  almost  invariably  desired  to  be  proud  of 
their  officers,  especially  their  company  captains ;  and  those  offi 
cers  who  generously  appreciated  their  men,  and  who  understood 
that  the  superior  rank  was  a  military  necessity,  and  not  indica 
tive  of  essential  and  permanent  distinctions  of  worth,  —  such 
leaders  were  held  in  all  honor  by  their  rank  and  file. 

There  was  no  better  occasion  for  taking  the  accurate  gauge 
of  a  company  officer  than  the  few  minutes  elapsing  between 
the  adjutant's  call  at  dress-parade  and  the  call  to  form  on  the 
colors.  In  each  company  street  the  commander  and  lieuten 
ants  appeared  before  their  men  in  full  dress. 

The  self-poise  and  easy  carriage  of  the  gentleman  were  not 
more  manifest  than  the  conscious  inferiority,  awkwardness,  and 
even  vulgarity  of  him  who  had  more  sash  than  sense,  and  who 
was  often  either  an  official  harlequin,  a  mediocre  puppet,  or  a 
shrewd,  characterless  owner  of  a  pair  of  shoulder-straps.  One 
officer,  while  waiting  for  the  signal,  would  browbeat  his  com 
pany,  pay  off  a  score  or  two  on  an  old  or  new  grudge  with  some 
private  or  non-commissioned  officer.  He  would  put  the  com 
pany  through  a  rapid  execution  of  the  manual,  face  them  more 
ways  than  he  did  himself  when  seeking  his  commission,  striving 
to  catch  some  blunderer  in  a  mistake,  and  evidently  enjoying 
the  consequent  mortification.  He  delivered  stern  lectures  to 
his  men  when,  perhaps,  he  would  have  done  well  to  listen  to  a 
total-abstinence  address ;  and,  in  general,  he  conducted  himself 


TESTING  AN  OFFICER.  133 

in  such  a  way  as  to  degrade  his  sword,  and  inspire  an  almost 
universal  hatred,  not  contempt,  for  a  smart  officer  never  engen 
dered  that  sentiment  in  the  army ;  and  most  of  this  class  of  im 
perious  disciplinarians  were  smart,  —  a  little  too  smart. 

Another  style  of  officer  strove  to  be  popular  in  his  company, 
and  he  —  didn't  know  how.  He  condescended  to  his  men  ;  he 
patronized  them ;  told  them  stories  in  line ;  dropped  honey 
from  his  lips  upon  every  file ;  sometimes  played  the  buffoon,  — 
always  with  success;  professed  to  despise  red  tape,  and  cer 
tainly  taught  the  best  of  his  men  to  despise  him  as  an  officer ; 
while  the  remainder  voted  him,  not  much  of  a  military  man, 
but  a  jolly  good  fellow. 

In  another  company  we  find  the  officers  well  balanced,  digni 
fied,  full  of  suavity,  appreciating  good  discipline,  ever  kind  to 
the  men,  maintaining  the  proper  reserve,  and  winning  the  re 
spect,  even  love,  of  their  command. 

All  of  these  diversities  of  volunteer  official  character  shone  out 
in  the  company  streets  for  the  brief  interval  alluded  to,  as  the 
sun  lent  its  last  rays  to  enhance  the  closing  pageant  of  the  day. 

This  occasion  was  the  best  for  the  company  commander's 
show  of  power ;  and  as  he  used  his  opportunity,  so  was  his 
military  stature  and  personal  worth  recorded  by  a  body  of  men 
too  intelligent  and  discriminating  to  allow  of  their  judgments 
being  ignored  with  impunity.  As  the  band  strikes  up  on  the 
right,  and  the  colors,  with  their  guard,  march  to  the  line  of 
parade,  the  spectacle  is  sufficiently  stirring  to  move  the  dullest 
observer.  It  is  just  before  sunset;  the  music  is  both  martial 
and  patriotic ;  two  or  three  other  regiments  in  the  brigade  are 
also  in  line  for  the  evening  dress-parade  ;  the  near  and  distant 
drum-corps:  the  far-off  bugle-call  of  some  cavalry  squadron; 
the  rumbling  of  a  light  battery  galloping  into  camp  from  an 
afternoon's  target  practice  ;  while  on  the  regimental  parade- 
ground  the  companies  are  being  put  through  some  preliminary 
evolutions  ;  the  marching  and  counter-marching,  converging  and 
unfolding,  of  companies  marching  in  line,  or  by  either  flank,  — 
every  particular,  and  the  grand  aggregate,  of  this  expanded 
view  enliven  and  make  brilliant  the  occasion. 


134  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

A  good  adjutant  and  a  stylish  sergeant-major  always  made 
a  noticeable  impression  on  dress-parade.  In  this  respect  the 
Fourteenth  Regiment  was  fortunate  throughout  its  history. 
Who  will  ever  forget  the  shrill  tenor  commands,  "  Attention, 
battalion  !  "  "  Prepare  to  open  ranks  !  "  "  To  the  rear  —  open 
order  —  march  !  "  as  we  listened  to  them  at  Offutt's  Cross  Roads, 
Poolesville,  and  Camp  Adirondack  ? 

But  the  surpassing  charm  of  those  parades  early  in  our  three 
years  of  service  lay  in  the  drum-corps  and  band-music  of  the 
hour.  We  were  proud  of  that  band.  It  was  not  a  first-class 
musical  organization,  but  it  was  the  best  we  knew  of  then;  and 
its  playing  was  excellent.  We  were  fond  of  the  burly,  whole- 
souled  leader ;  and  we  became  attached  to  the  physiognomy  of 
every  member.  Yes,  the  high  private  who  tailed  the  bass  drum, 
and  boasted  (when  away)  that  he  played  in  the  band ;  his  ram 
rod  erectness  and  solemn  tread,  —  became  a  cherished  feature 
of  the  programme. 

The  entire  regiment  heartily  enjoyed  the  slow-time  music  of 
the  band  passing  down  the  front,  and  the  quick  measures  of  the 
return  march.  The  parade  formed,  the  drill  in  the  manual, 
the  marshalling  of  the  first  sergeants  to  report,  the  march  of 
the  line-officers  to  receive  the  colonel's  instruction,  the  dismissal 
of  the  parade,  and  the  eager  marching  into  camp,  breaking  ranks, 
throwing  off  of  equipments,  and  falling  into  line  for  rations,  — 
these  incidents,  following  each  other  in  a  panorama  most  im 
pressive  to  the  young  soldier,  come  to  mind  vividly  after  the 
lapse  of  years. 


Long  Bridge,  crossing  the  Potomac  at  the  foot  of  Maryland 
Avenue,  was  the  great  outlet  from  Washington  into  Virginia, 
and  toward  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  when  it  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  capital.  To  and  from  Alexandria,  Camp  Dis 
tribution,  and  the  great  forts  constituting  the  south-western  de 
fences  of  Washington,  there  flowed  a  constant  tide  of  officers, 
detachments,  ambulance  and  wagon  trains,  besides  recruits, 


AT  LONG  BRIDGE.  135 

stragglers,  and  nondescript  civilians.  It  was  found  necessary, 
in  the  autumn  of  1863,  to  station  a  more  efficient  guard  at  the 
south  or  Virginia  end  of  the  bridge.  On  the  evening  of  Octo 
ber  19,  Capt.  Ripley,  with  some  seventy  men,  beside  Lieut. 
Fosgate  and  Sergts.  Holmes,  Colburn,  Merrill,  and  Martin, 
marched  to  relieve  the  detachment  on  duty  at  that  post. 

The  incidents  of  that  march  are,  doubtless,  forcibly  impressed 
upon  the  memories  of  the  squad.  The  passage  across  Long 
Bridge,  at  night,  was  calculated  to  impress  the  imagination; 
but  there  was  nothing  poetical  in  what  transpired  after  the  des 
tination  was  reached,  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  Again  the 
Fourteenth  encountered  the  imbecile  One  Hundred  and  Sev 
enty-eighth  N.  Y.,  and  the  same  performance  was  begun  which 
has  been  previously  described  of  the  Old-Capitol  Prison  relief. 

But  Capt.  Ripley  was  not  exactly  in  a  mood  to  be  trifled  with, 
and  the  officer  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  found 
his  match  in  every  respect.  For  a  few  minutes  there  was  a 
wide  margin  for  an  ugly  encounter,  and  the  temper  of  the  Four 
teenth  boys  was  in  no  wise  averse  to  it ;  but,  after  a  great  deal 
of  boisterous  cursing,  the  Dutchmen  were  got  out  of  doors, 
most  of  them  being  good-natured,  but  contemptible,  soldiers. 

The  attempt  to  right  dress  them  before  starting  rounded  off 
the  absurdities  of  the  situation ;  and  the  incoming  squad,  with 
the  exception  of  the  first  detail,  turned  in. 

And  such  a  turning  in !  The  writer  picked  his  bunk,  but 
was  no  sooner  into  it  than  a  big  rat  burrowed  in  one  of  his 
trousers'  legs.  His  bunk-mate  was  worse  off;  for,  before  he  got 
fairly  settled  to  rest,  two  of  the  lusty,  long-tailed  vermin  raced 
down  his  back  inside  his  shirt.  That  pastime  was  speedily 
tabooed.  The  detachment  settled  down  to  a  four  and  a  half 
months'  service  at  this  post,  —  a  service  relieved  of  monotony  by 
the  ever  varying  crowds  surging  along  that  great  thoroughfare 
of  war.  The  discipline  maintained  by  Capt.  Ripley  was  of  the 
strictest  sort,  the  off  reliefs  of  the  guard  being  required  to 
sleep  in  the  guard-room  with  accoutrements  always  on. 

When  a  general  officer  approached,  the  guard  was  nearly 
always  turned  out,  aligned,  and  standing  at  present  arms  when 


136  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  cavalcade  passed.  However  distasteful  and  burdensome 
these  minutiae  of  service  seemed  to  the  men,  it  must  be  con 
ceded  that  one  advantage  resulted  ;  i.e.,  the  alertness,  readiness, 
and  efficiency  of  the  men  were  remarkably  developed. 

Fort  Albany  lay  just  beyond  ;  trains  to  and  from  Alexandria 
were  continually  passing,  as  Long  Bridge  is  used  for  railroad 
and  vehicle  communication ;  the  music  of  drum-corps  and 
bands  from  the  line  of  fortifications  crowning  Arlington 
Heights  ;  the  gay  kaleidoscope  of  vessels  crowding  into  Wash 
ington  with  the  munitions  of  war;  the  tread  of  the  Union 
legions  pressing  to  the  strife,  —  these  elements  of  the  great 
conflict-picture  presented  themselves  constantly  to  the  guards 
at  the  south  end  of  Long  Bridge. 

Every  phase  of  army  character  presented  itself  at  that  gate, 
through  which  no  officer  below  a  brigadier  could  pass  without 
a  written  leave,  and  where  no  person  could  escape  without  giving 
an  account  of  himself. 

Bribes  were  frequently  offered.  We  have  seen  a  captain,  a 
staff-officer,  offer  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  in  green 
backs  to  be  allowed  to  pass  into  Washington  unmolested.  It 
was  in  the  night,  and  he  was  anxious.  It  was  a  good  deal  of 
money  for  a  poor  soldier  to  handle ;  but  the  soldier  never  han 
dled  it,  and  the  captain  failed  in  his  purpose. 

The  smuggling  of  whiskey  was  specially  guarded  against, 
and  there  was  many  an  amusing  search  for  the  contraband. 

Among  all  the  general  officers  who  passed  over  Long  Bridge, 
none  were  received  with  more  pleasure  than  the  venerable 
Major-Gen.  Silas  Casey,  who  always  appeared  with  a  large 
retinue,  himself  riding  at  a  sharp  trot,  while  his  staff  followed 
on  the  gallop.  It  was  the  peculiarity  of  his  return  salute  that 
always  amused  the  guard.  He  would  grasp  his  military  cap  by 
the  crown  disk,  and  thrust  it  vertically  into  the  air  with  a  curi 
ous  vim. 

A  singular  feature  of  the  duty  here  was  the  dress-parades 
held  by  command  of  Capt.  Ripley.  Each  company  detail  stood 
for  a  company  in  this  unique  tactical  performance  ;  the  captain 
appeared  as  colonel ;  the  lieutenant  was  adjutant,  and  the  non- 


REMARKABLE  DRESS-PARADES.  137 

corns,  were  company  commanders.  The  music  consisted  of  a 
single  fife  and  drum.  Those  dress-parades  were  solemn  affairs, 
—  on  the  surface ;  and  our  "  colonel "  was  reserved  and  digni 
fied  in  his  military  pose.  Those  queer  parades  !  They  served 
to  keep  the  men  on  the  alert,  for  every  detail  was  most  punctili 
ously  scrutinized  ;  and  they  served  as  a  diversion  too.  Proba 
bly  at  no  other  post  of  duty  in  the  entire  field  of  war  was 
there  any  thing  similar  to  the  dress-parades  at  the  south  end  of 
Long  Bridge. 

One  of  the  recreations  at  Long  Bridge  was  found  in  a  debat 
ing  society,  organized  by  ten  or  a  dozen  members  of  the  detach 
ment.  Sergt.  Holmes  was  a  leading  spirit  in  that  little  society, 
meeting  in  a  little  upper  room ;  and  Sergt.  Colburn,  Corpl. 
Howard,  together  with  a  few  privates,  were  among  the  regular 
attendants.  December  15  Capt.  Ripley  relinquished  the  com 
mand  of  the  post. 

December  25  Sergt.  Colburn,  one  of  the  best  non-commis 
sioned  officers  in  the  regiment,  left  this  post,  being  attacked,  as 
was  supposed,  with  varioloid. 

The  winter  of  1863-64  was  severe  in  Washington,  and  the 
post  at  the  south  end  of  Long  Bridge  was  peculiarly  exposed 
to  harsh  winds :  the  guards  suffered  considerably. 

February  1,  soon  after  midnight,  the  detachment  of  the 
Fourteenth  was  relieved  by  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  and 
marched  into  camp  ;  and  it  was  reported  that  there  was  much 
satisfaction  expressed  at  the  departure  of  our  men  by  those 
who  had  felt  the  effects  of  a  guard-duty  performed  with  a 
strictness  exactly  according  to  orders. 

November  7  Lieut.  C.  D.  Wright  was  appointed  acting  adju 
tant  of  the  regiment. 

On  Wednesday,  December  2,  the  members  of  the  Fourteenth 
witnessed  the  finishing  touches  to  the  exterior  of  the  grand 
dome  of  the  Capitol.  The  work  of  years  was  complete,  and 
the  familiar  but  unsightly  stagings  and  hoisting-rigging  soon 
came  down. 

December  4  Acting  Adjutant  C.  D.  Wright  was  commis 
sioned,  and  was  mustered  the  8th. 


138  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

According  to  the  highest  testimony,  the  military  guard  and 
special  duty  in  the  city  of  Washington  had  never  been  per 
formed  so  satisfactorily  as  it  was  by  the  Fourteenth.  The  line- 
officers  in  command  of  posts  and  detachments  had  shown  con 
spicuous  ability  and  integrity,  while  the  rank  and  file  were 
notably  reliable  and  intelligent.  Every  indication  pointed  to 
the  permanent  retention  of  so  valuable  a  body  of  men  in  the 
capital  city.  But  there  were  two  influences  at  work  to  disturb 
the  tranquillity  of  the  arrangement  and  the  permanency  of  the 
service.  One  was  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps,  which  was  a 
body  of  men  organized  from  the  partially  disabled  troops  not 
discharged,  and  able  to  do  guard-duty.  These  were  supplant 
ing  efficient  troops  wherever  practicable.  This  organization, 
however,  except  for  pressing  exigencies  of  the  situation,  could 
not  have  taken  the  place  of  the  Fourteenth  in  Washington. 
There  was  an  exigency  which  demanded  precisely  such  a  large 
and  well-disciplined  regiment  as  "  Lincoln's  Pets." 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  appointed  lieutenant-general  of  the 
army  and  commander-in  chief  of  the  Union  forces  March  1, 
1864.  Before  his  appointment  there  were  several  annoying 
Rebel  raids  on  the  upper  Potomac.  The  first  was  made  at  the 
extreme  westerly  point  of  Old  Virginia,  where  Major  Beers 
with  three  hundred  Illinoisans  and  three  guns  were  surrounded, 
January  1,  by  the  Rebel  Sam  Jones.  Fitz-Hugh  Lee  tried  his 
hand  at  it ;  and  again,  January  30,  Jubal  Early  sent  his  cavalry 
leader,  Rosser,  into  West  Virginia,  where  he  captured  two  hun 
dred  and  seventy  prisoners,  ninety-three  mule-wagons,  twelve 
hundred  cattle,  and  five  hundred  sheep,  all  without  the  loss  of 
a  man.  February  2,  and  again  on  the  12th,  other  raids  were 
attempted  with  partial  success.  Rosser's  raid  was  potent  in 
shaping  the  destiny  of  the  Fourteenth. 

The  next  day,  January  31,  every  detachment  was  hastily 
ordered  into  camp,  being  relieved  in  most  cases  by  the  Veteran 
Reserve  Corps  ;  and  February  1  the  regiment  left  Washington  on 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  via  the  Relay  Station  for-  the 
purpose  of  repelling  the  rampant  raiders  on  the  upper  Potomac. 
The  command  proceeded  as  far  as  the  junction  of  the  north 


A   VIEW    OF    HARPER'S    FERRY. 


i 


AFTER    THE  GUERILLAS.  139 

and  south  branches  of  the  river,  the  latter  part  of  the  way 
moving  with  great  caution.  It  was  understood  that  one  sound 
of  the  whistle  meant  that  a  line  of  battle  was  to  be  instantly 
formed  on  the  right  of  the  train,  while  two  sounds  rallied  the 
men  to  the  left.  Arriving  at  the  junction  before  mentioned, 
the  bridge  was  found  burned,  the  expedition  could  proceed  no 
farther ;  and  the  regiment  went  into  camp  in  shelter-tents, 
with  orders  to  be  ready  constantly  to  march  at  fifteen-minutes' 
notice.  The  men  slept  with  their  accoutrements  belted  on. 

The  discomforts  of  this  bivouac  were  great,  a  heavy  rain  fall 
ing  during  the  night,  and  in  many  instances  streams  of  water 
ran  down  the  slope  beneath  the  sleeping  men. 

On  the  morning  of  February  7  the  regiment  embarked  on 
the  train  and  returned  to  Harper's  Ferry,  arriving  there  at 
eight  P.M.  The  men  esteemed  it  a  special  favor  to  be  allowed 
to  sleep  in  the  box-cars  of  the  transportation  train. 

The  next  morning  a  camp  was  established  on  Cemetery  Hill, 
above  the  village  called  Camp  Hill,  which  consisted  of  shelter- 
tents  ;  the  officers  occupying  an  adjacent  house. 

Orders  were  issued  on  the  (Jth  incorporating  the  Fourteenth 
in  the  third  brigade,  third  division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  Gen. 
Sedgwick's.  This  connection  was  destined  to  be  of  short  dura 
tion.  A  picket-line,  eight  or  ten  miles  long,  was  established 
from  the  Potomac  to  the  Shenandoah.  On  this  line  the  Four 
teenth  performed  picket-duty.  While  stationed  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  a  good  many  subaltern  promotions  were  made,  and  some 
of  the  insubordinate  members  were  court-martialled.  On  the 
llth  of  the  month  the  regiment  was  relieved  by  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Second  Penn.,  the  former  removing  half  a  mile  to 
Camp  Sherborn,  on  Hall's  Island  in  the  Shenandoah. 

While  encamped  here,  Lieut.  Tolman  was  promoted  to  the 
captaincy  of  Company  E. 

A  detail  of  the  regiment  was  posted  in  Loudon  Valley,  where 
Moseby,  three  weeks  previously,  had  surprised  a  Union  cavalry 
station  in  the  night.  It  may  be  accounted  certain,  that,  had 
Cole's  cavalry  been  as  vigilant  as  were  the  pickets  of  the  Four 
teenth,  they  could  never  have  been  surprised.  Moseby  was  a 


140  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

great  instructor  in  the  virtue  and  the  art  of  Union  alertness. 
The  weather  was  intensely  cold,  and  the  camp  was  in  no  sense 
winter  quarters.  The  men  suffered  severely,  and  could  not 
keep  warm. 

Never  was  an  order  more  rapturously  applauded  than  that 
which  came  on  February  24,  for  the  regiment  to  return  to 
Washington.  Transportation  was  furnished  that  afternoon. 

The  regiment  found  itself  again  in  Washington  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  25th,  and  the  men  felt  as  though  they  had  come  home 
from  a  strange  country.  They  fondly  speculated  upon  the  re 
turn  to  the  old  haunts  of  duty,  which  had  in  a  measure  become 
endeared  by  association.  They  did  not  appreciate  the  fact  that 
the  death-rate  in  the  regiment  would  be  lowered  by  leaving  the 
city ;  although  the  subsequent  destination  in  the  far  South  re 
sulted,  not  in  a  diminution,  but  an  alarming  increase,  of  losses 
by  disease.  As  the  Fourteenth  marched  up  New-Jersey  Avenue, 
it  was  seen  that  Camp  Adirondack  was  not  to  be  re-occupied. 
Instead,  the  line  of  march  led  to  the  new  and  admirable  bar 
racks  situated  on  the  corner  of  Sixth  and  O  Streets,  recently 
constructed  especially  for  the  Fourteenth,  and  which  it  would 
have  occupied  in  a  few  days  had  not  the  fright  on  the  upper 
Potomac  upset  the  expected  arrangements.  The  commanding- 
officer  knew,  while  at  Harper's  Ferry,  that  the  guard-duty  of 
the  regiment  in  Washington  was  ended,  and  that  it  was  intended 
for  other  service.  The  occupancy  of  the  Sixth-street  barracks 
was  but  temporary ;  and  the  men  made  the  most  of  their  brief 
stop  in  a  city  they  had  come  to  know  well  and  to  love,  and 
which  many  of  them  were  never  to  see  again. 

On  the  26th  Lieut.  C.  P.  Hall  took  command  of  Company  C. 

ARMY  DISCIPLINE. 

The  Northern  soldier  was  no  minion  or  serf.  He  fully  be 
lieved  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  considered  that 
every  principle  of  American  freedom  was  illustrated  in  his  own 
personality.  He  could  cheerfully  endure  unwonted  privations 
and  most  arduous  service ;  but  would  he,  all  unaccustomed  to 


ARMY  DISCIPLINE. 

the  inexorable  rigor  of  military  law,  submit  to  the  discipline  of 
an  organized  armed  force?  The  traditions  of  war  had  faded 
from  the  American  mind.  The  militia  was  an  ancient  joke,  and 
"trainins"  were  obsolete;  the  only  reminiscences  of  them  cher 
ished  by  the  fighting  generation  of  1861  being  those  of  bear-skin 
caps,  burlesque  soldiering,  pandemonium  of  drums,  gingerbread, 

and  beer. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  studies  in  connection  with  our 
civil  war  was  the  incidents  and  effects  of  discipline,  as  the 
civilian  was  being  transformed  to  the  experienced  soldier.  And 
we  may  here  affirm  that  the  process  was  inevitably  a  slow  one. 
Nothing,  unless  it  might  be  an  unusual  soldierly  instinct  or 
genius  occasionally  possessing  a  man,  could  obviate  the  neces 
sity  of  prolonged  training,  and  submission  to  rigorous  codes,  in 
order  to  economize  life  and  effort,  and  to  develop  the  highest 
efficiency.  A  battalion  is  eminently  a  machine ;  and  its  parts 
must  be  nicely  adjusted  by  long  use  together,  and  made  to  run 
in  prescribed  grooves,  if  the  intricate  mechanism  is  to  serve  its 
end  and  turn  out  anticipated  results.  But  observe  the  applica 
tion  of  this  principle  to  the  formative  processes  of  a  regiment 
preparing  for  the  crucial  ordeal  of  deadly  conflict. 

The  awful  death-roll  of  the  Union  armies  was  lengthened  at 
least  one-fourth,  probably  one-third,  by  the  want  of  wholesome 
though  irksome  discipline  during  the  first  months  of  service, 
in   many  cases   continuing  throughout  the  entire  term.     The 
task  was  little  short  of  herculean,  to  bring  a  million  self-centred 
human  wills,  most  of  them  panoplied  in  an  intelligence  which 
no  troops  in  all  history  had  before  attained,  into  implicit  and 
unswerving   obedience   to   one   central  and  many  subordinate 
commanders.     We  do  not  intimate  that  this  was  ever  realized, 
except  measurably ;  but  the  extent  of  failure  was  the  measure 
of  calamities  to  armies,  disasters  to  the  cause,  and  slaughters 
and   hospital   morgues   for  men  who,  brave,  loyal,  and  noble, 
were   yet   restive  under  a  discipline  which  might,  if  enforced 
and  submitted  to,  have  turned  defeats  into  victories,  and  saved 
their  lives. 

A  sort  of  trained  consolidation,  valuable  surely,  resulted  from 


142  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

merely  a  continued  organization,  isolated  from  old  connections ; 
and  so  far  as  troops  were  drilled  and  developed  into  a  homo 
geneous  unity,  were  they  efficient  and  reliable.  Several  battles 
in  that  war  were  lost,  which  might  have  been  won  had  certain 
brigades  and  even  divisions  never  been  marched  on  to  the  field. 
This  is  illustrated  in  the  well-known  fact,  that,  in  a  severe  con 
test,  a  battalion  of  five  hundred  veterans  was  worth  more  than 
a  fresh  regiment  of  a  thousand  men;  and  most  of  the  Union 
regiments  won  their  greenest  laurels  after  they  were  reduced 
to  less  than  four  hundred.  The  regiments  subjected  to  the 
strictest  discipline  lost  fewest  men  from  disease,  and  secured 
the  most  brilliant  record.  But  the  enunciation  of  such  a  doc 
trine  in  the  average  company  street  of  a  Union  camp,  prior  to 
1863,  would  have  roused  a  perfect  tempest  of  opprobrium. 

Our  loyal  trooper  was  jealous  of  his  rights,  hated  red  tape, — 
calling  every  thing  red  tape  that  did  not  suit  him,  —  and  didn't 
propose  to  be  bullied  by  "  shoulder-straps."  When  it  came  to 
the  last  analysis  he  never  explained  just  how  much  he  meant, 
nor  how  he  would  manage  an  army,  nor  how  he  could  help  him 
self;  and,  if  he  went  "  fooling  round  "  the  limits  of  insubordina 
tion,  he  had  a  quiet  and  more  or  less  prolonged  opportunity  for 
study  among  the  natural  scenery  of  the  Rip-Raps  or  Dry  Tortu- 
gas.  But  laxity  of  discipline  was  not  so  much  indicated  by 
mutinies  or  court-martials,  as  by  a  low  morale  throughout  the 
line  ;  a  mild  but  dangerous  defiance  of,  or  contempt  for,  those 
wholesome  rules  which  a  long  experience  had  approved. 

Among  volunteer  troops  there  is  certain  to  be  a  jealous 
watchfulness  of  all  official  prerogatives ;  and  it  was  the  severest 
trial  to  which  the  loyal  forces  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  were 
subjected,  that  of  bringing  themselves  to  a  prompt  and  implicit 
obedience  to  constituted  military  authority.  And  a  civilian 
cannot  appreciate  the  extent  of  this  subordination  nor  the  per 
sonal  sacrifices  it  demanded.  If  every  officer  had  been  superior 
to  the  rank  and  file,  fitted  for  command,  endowed  with  the 
proud  and  recognized  attributes  of  leadership,  — "  One  that 
could  rule  and  dared  not  lie,"  —  even  then,  who  can  adequately 
appreciate  the  fealty  to  law,  and  the  patient  bending  of  the  neck 


SOMETHING  ABOUT  OFFICERS.  143 

to  such  an  inexorable  yoke  as  despotic  martial  regulations 
require  from  those  who  had  been  taught  by  political  constitu 
tions,  patriotic  orators,  and  a  long  experience,  that  they  were 
the  ultimate  sovereigns  of  the  mightest  government  in  the 
world  ?  But  the  veteran  boys  in  blue  have  not  forgotten  that 
some  of  their  officers  were  not  Agamemnons,  nor  ideals  of  any 
distinguished  genus. 

There  were  three  sorts  of  officers  which  held  the  comfort  and 
even  the  lives  of  a  million  of  men,  to  a  dreadful  degree,  subject 
to  their  wills.  The  first  were  able,  honorable,  accomplished 
men,  animated  by  the  highest  motives,  and  governed  by  a  gen 
erous  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  their  men.  Certainly,  no 
army  that  ever  shook  the  earth,  and  changed  the  current  of  the 
world's  destiny,  was  adorned  with  such  a  proportion  of  this 
class  of  officers  as  were  the  legions  of  Father  Abraham,  twice 
six  hundred  thousand  strong;  and  the  Fourteenth  Regiment 
was  certainly  favored  with  a  large  number  of  leaders  who  will 
be  honored  while  a  single  veteran  remains  to  transmit  the  tradi 
tions  of  a  noble  organization  and  its  worthy  achievements. 

The  second  sort  was  made  up  of  equally  brilliant  men,  but 
selfish,  unscrupulous,  tyrannical.  Taking  the  loyal  forces  to 
gether,  there  was  a  grim,  portentous  array  of  these  official  mis 
creants,  who  trod  upon  the  rights,  and  coarsely  abraded  the 
sensitive  natures,  of  their  most  faithful  soldiers.  This  veteran 
association  is  happy  in  the  remembrance  of  very  few  of  these 
unworthy  officials  upon  its  muster-rolls.  But,  wherever  found, 
it  was  as  company  officers  that  they  were  most  obnoxious,  as 
these  were  brought  into  closer  relations  with  the  men :  and 
while  the  abuse  or  negligence  of  a  battalion  or  brigade  com 
mander  comprehended  more  victims  and  broader  mischief,  the 
infliction  was  somewhat  tempered  by  distance ;  whereas  the  har- 
assments  of  a  company  commander,  even  if  somewhat  trivial, 
were  more  exasperating  for  several  reasons,  being  inflictions  of 
direct  contact.  The  lower  the  rank  of  an  officer  of  this  char 
acter,  the  more  he  desired  to  show  his  power ;  and  especially 
was  this  true  in  the  initiatory  period  of  a  regiment's  service. 

A  single  incident  illustrates  the  severity  of  this  disciplinary 


144  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

strain  upon  those  all  unaccustomed  to  serving  as  victims  in  any 
exercise  of  arbitrary  power.  One  of  the  finest  young  men  in 
his  native  town,  of  excellent  family  and  highest  character,  a 
student  in  Dartmouth  College,  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Regi 
ment.  He  was  promised  one  of  the  best  subaltern  offices,  and 
he  got  —  nothing.  The  day  following  the  captain's  muster, 
when  his  power  had  become  in  a  sense  absolute,  the  company 
was  out  for  drill.  The  young  man  in  question  was  near  the 
right  of  the  line  ;  and,  in  an  alignment,  he  failed  to  dress  back 
ward  as  .far  as  desired.  With  his  trenchant  blade  the  gallant 
captain  made  his  debut  as  a  military  despot.  Without  a  word 
of  warning  he  struck  this  high-spirited,  sensitive  man  —  now  a 
private  in  the  ranks  —  a  smart  blow  with  his  sword.  To  this 
fearful  humiliation  the  private  must  submit  without  one  word 
of  remonstrance :  and  he  did,  but  his  spirit  was  broken  ;  never 
was  he  the  same  man  after  suffering,  in  the  presence  of  an  entire 
company,  this  cruel  indignity.  There  were  scores  of  others, 
more  severe  if  not  more  odious  wrongs  and  humiliations,  which 
either  begot  discouragement  or  prompted  to  insubordination, 
perhaps  ultimate  revenge. 

Twenty  years  have  but  little  softened  the  remembrance  of 
petty  tyrannies  and  gross  outrages  inflicted  by  uniformed,  small- 
patterned  despots,  "dressed  in  a  little  brief  authority,"  upon 
high-spirited,  but  devoted  and  obedient,  soldiers  of  the  Union, 
yet  subjects  of  their  misused  power.  Even  the  considerate 
exercise  of  the  great  though  necessary  authority  residing  in  an 
officer  holding  a  military  commission,  entailed  inevitable  and 
irksome  burdens,  for  reasons  which  follow.  A  whole  company 
enlisted  as  equals,  as  privates.  On  Monday  they  were  on  a 
level.  On  Tuesday,  three  out  of  the  hundred  men,  not  the 
best  or  worthiest  often,  withdrew  from  the  common  barracks  to 
a  seclusion,  a  privilege,  and  a  power,  which  meant  a  distinction 
and  an  advantage  that  can  be  appreciated  by  no  one  save  an 
intelligent  man  who  has  served  throughout  his  enlistment  term. 
The  transition  was  so  sudden,  the  distinction  so  absolute,  the 
gulf  so  broad,  that  the  officer  sometimes  forgot  to  be  a  man ; 
and  the  private,  bewildered,  forgot  to  be  a  soldier. 


ARTS   OF   THE  AMBITIOUS.  145 

There  was  another  circumstance  which  aggravated  the  sud 
denly  created  disparity  of  rank,  and  the  tremendous  accession 
to  power  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  relegation  to  unquestioning 
submission  on  the  other.  To  state  it  briefly,  the  sovereign,  by 
the  very  exercise  of  his  ultimate  power,  makes  of  himself  a  help 
less  servant,  and  transfers  to  his  dependant  an  irretrievable 
power  over  his  life,  liberty,  and  peace  of  mind.  It  was  a  privi 
lege  of  very  doubtful  advantage  on  the  whole,  that  by  which 
each  company  was  allowed  to  select  its  own  commissioned  offi 
cers.  Not  half  the  instances  justified  in  their  results,  a  practice, 
democratic  in  the  inception,  despotic  in  the  outcome.  We  now 
speak  of  despotism,  not  in  its  cruel  aspects,  but  as  entirely  arbi 
trary  and  senseless  in  the  development  and  discipline  of  the 
company  organization. 

Let  the  veteran  volunteer  in  retrospect  ponder  the  arts  by 
which  some  of  the  officers  —  we  are  glad  to  concede  that  they 
were  few  —  won  votes  and  secured  their  commissions.  In  fact, 
all  company  officers  were  in  the  hands  of  their  comrades  —  before 
election.  Some  of  them  solicited  votes  and  promised  subaltern 
offices.  In  one  company  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  ten  men 
were  promised  a  file-closer's  post,  and  twenty-one  were  made 
quite  sure  of  the  two-barred  chevron.  It  is  probable  that  a 
majority  of  the  captains  and  lieutenants  sought  no  votes  and 
bought  no  elections  by  offers  of  preferment ;  but  those  officers 
who  solicited  most  artfully  and  persistently,  and  were  most  afflu 
ent  in  promises,  were  as  ready  as  any  to  forget  their  obligations, 
to  stultify  their  pledges,  and  to  be  cruel  to  those  who  could  not 
be  coaxed,  bought,  or  driven  into  supporting  them  for  the  cov 
eted  trusts.  Good  men  and  true  may  be  judged  leniently 
if  they  were  not  perfectly  flexible  in  adjusting  themselves 
to  conditions  so  novel,  and  were  not  cheerful  in  submitting  to 
authority  so  suddenly  granted  and  acquired,  and  possibly  so 
dangerous  to  their  welfare. 

The  third  class  of  officers  may  be  somewhat  loosely  charac 
terized  as  good-natured  imbeciles.  They  were  as  fit  for  military 
command  as  a  yard  of  blue  drilling  for  a  drum-head.  The 
observation  of  Dr.  Johnson,  that  "  Much  may  be  made  of  a 


146  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Scotchman  if  he  be  caught  young,"  was  possibly  applicable  to 
the  doughty  chiefs  enumerated  under  this  head ;  but  they  were 
never  "  caught  young  "  in  the  military  net :  and,  in  some  in 
stances,  nothing  short  of  an  ante-natal  training  would  have 
availed.  They  could  control  enough  votes  so  that  they  must 
be  counted  in  when  the  patriotic  log-rolling  came  off,  which 
determined  the  company  leadership  "  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war." 

Now,  this  class  of  officers  was  more  destructive  of  discipline 
than  the  second  ;  for  however  oppressive  an  officer  might  show 
himself,  if  he  was  a  man  of  brains  and  evidenced  considerable 
military  ability,  his  men  did  entertain  for  him  an  essential  re 
spect,  and  he  did  hold  his  command  measurably  well  in  hand : 
but  a  shoulder-strapped  nonentity  excited  a  ridicule  which  was 
utterly  subversive  of  successful  leadership.  If  he  was  blindly 
kind  to  the  men,  he  became  popular  in  a  way ;  but  a  drill  under 
such  an  officer  was  a  rollicking,  tactical  dance,  a  ruinous  bur 
lesque  of  every  company  movement.  He  was  corpulent,  per 
haps,  and  marched  across  the  parade-ground  much  like  an 
immense,  shaky  water-tank,  which  had  stolen  a  pair  of  inade 
quate  legs,  and  was  perambulating  in  uniform ;  the  difference 
being,  that  our  hero  was  a  tank  quite  unaccustomed  to  hold 
water. 

There  was  another  genus  of  this  class,  —  the  dainty  aesthete, 
taken  out  of  the  maternal  bandbox  on  purpose  to  lead  the  ple 
beian  hosts  through  sanguinary  struggles  to  romance  and  glory ; 
but  the  gentle  wrist  was  unequal  to  his  own  moulinet  exercise ; 
and  his  hair  had  a  curl  never  intended  for  the  unpoetical  sabre- 
thrust  of  Jeb.  Stuart,  nor  the  deadly  aim  of  Jackson's  old  divis 
ion.  All  of  this  sash-girted  rubbish  soon  floated  homeward  on 
the  happy  currents  of  eagerly  accepted  resignations,  and  better 
men  from  the  ranks  stepped  into  positions  they  should  have 
originally  occupied. 

When  the  officers  of  the  class  under  consideration  took  a 
company  out  for  drill,  they  would  demoralize  it  more  in  one 
hour  than  an  efficient  drill-master  could  improve  it  in  a  week. 
Some  of  the  evolutions  much  resembled  the  boy's  game  of 


AN  AMUSING  DRILL.  147 

whip-snapping.  One  of  these  worthies  at  Camp  Adirondack 
kept  his  command  in  a  ferment  for  nearly  two  hours  one  morn 
ing,  trying  to  secure  an  alignment;  and  he  wasn't  over-nice 
either,  for  a  line  decently  resembling  the  new  moon  would  have 
been  entirely  satisfactory.  He  became  at  last  annoyed  at  the 
stupidity  displayed  (he  located  it  in  the  line),  and  adopted  an 
extra  tactical  expedient.  He  advanced  the  company  in  line  of 
battle,  and  there  was  a  look  of  martial  determination  in  his 
whole  demeanor  such  as  had  never  before  graced  his  carriage. 
Onward  the  line  tumbled  with  as  many  different  steps  as  there 
were  men  in  the  ranks,  tmtil  with  a  crash  the  march  ended 
against  the  high  board-fence  of  Finley  Hospital.  His  method 
was  illuminated  by  his  comment,  "  There,  d — n  you !  I'll  see  if 
I  can't  right  dress  you  !  "  In  a  majority  of  the  companies  of  the 
Fourteenth  Regiment  there  were  not  only  relations  of  hearty 
confidence  and  respect  maintained  between  officers  and  men, 
but  an  efficient  discipline  was  enforced  and  cheerfully  sub 
mitted  to  by  nearly  all  of  the  rank  and  file.  The  character  and 
efficiency  of  the  company  officers  in  no  wise  deteriorated  as  the 
term  of  service  advanced  ;  and,  while  there  may  have  been  suffi 
cient  reasons  for  the  failure  of  the  command  as  a  whole  to  reach 
a  high  state  of  discipline  early  in  its  history,  no  one  doubts  that 
its  varied  and  trying  service  was  admirably  calculated  to  afford 
the  best  of  training,  and  to  render  it  thoroughly  reliable  in  any 
exigency. 

When  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  entered  its  first  battle,  it 
had  probably  reached  the  highest  state  of  discipline  and  esprit 
du  corps  of  which  it  was  capable.  While  never  remarkable  for 
excellence  in  evolution  or  manual,  this  organization  had  no 
superior  throughout  the  army  in  intelligence,  submission,  and 
prompt  obedience  to  every  order.  The  claim  has  been  made, 
that  the  Fourteenth  was  handicapped  from  the  first  in  respect 
of  internal  tendencies  toward  disorganization,  rather  than  unity, 
and  that  it  lacked  the  inspiration  of  that  solidity  so  essential  to 
the  safety  and  triumph  of  those  who  must  face  death  together. 
Without  passing  upon  this  assumption,  it  is  enough  to  say,  that 
through  suffering,  patient  endurance,  varied  and  severe  train- 


148  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

ing,  energetic  devotion,  and  the  leavening  stimulus  of  an  appre 
ciative  and  hearty  loyalty,  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  keeping 
time  to  the  music  of  the  Union,  marched  quite  abreast  of  those 
battalions  of  the  grand  army  of  the  North  which  proudly  knew 
the  object  of  their  being,  loved  their  cause,  would  die  for  their 
flag,  and,  deploying  in  the  focus-light  of  an  unequalled  age,  were 
of  all  forces  on  the  earth  supremely  irresistible. 


MOUTH    OF   THE    SHENANDOAH. 


AMONG   THE  ALLIGATORS.  149 


III. 

THE  LOUISIANA    CAMPAIGN. 

THE  celebrated  Red-river  campaign  was  planned  in  January, 
1864;  and  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks  was  mustering  a  large  army  for  an 
advance  on  Shreveport.  It  appears  that  the  Fourteenth  was 
intended  either  for  a  re-enforcement  of  that  expedition,  or  for 
garrisoning  exposed  points  on  the  Mississippi  while  the  main 
army  was  buried  in  the  treacherous  labyrinths  of  the  Red-river 
country.  But  there  was  a  nearer  and  a  more  dangerous  foe 
than  the  hordes  of  Dick  Taylor.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  more  afraid 
of  Northern  Copperheads  than  of  Southern  battalions.  En  route 
for  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  the  Fourteenth  was  to  make  a 
brilliant  armed  reconnoissance  into  New  Hampshire.  Not  with 
bullets,  but  with  ballots,  was  the  enemy  to  be  assaulted;  although 
it  was  a  quite  prevalent  feeling,  that  the  former  was  a  treat 
ment  sufficiently  mild  for  the  traitorous  opposition  to  the  war 
which  the  army  and  the  country  had  to  endure  from  those,  who, 
if  not  active  sympathizers  with  treason,  were  persistent  obstruc 
tionists  of  every  war-measure. 

The  regiment  had  not  been  in  the  new  barracks  twenty-four 
hours  when  it  was  announced  that  it  was  to  be  allowed  to  go 
home  to  vote.  A  quiet  canvass  of  the  companies  was  made ; 
and  it  was  ascertained  that  the  Fourteenth  would  vote  almost 
solidly  for  a  State  government  which  could  be  counted  on  to 
heartily  sustain  the  President  in  his  efforts  to  put  down  the 
Rebellion.  Nothing  was  revealed  as  to  the  destination  of  the 
regiment  subsequent  to  its  wholesale  furlough.  It  was  no  time 
for  anxiety  over  the  future.  The  entire  command  was  jubilant 
over  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  though  brief  re-union  with  the 


150  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

loved  ones  at  home.  Saturday,  February  27,  the  Fourteenth 
took  the  train  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  Sunday 
night  remained  in  barracks  in  New- York  City,  located  where  the 
post-office  building  now  stands.  Monday  transportation  was 
secured;  and  Concord,  N.H.,  was  reached  the  next  day.  The 
regiment  was  received  with  considerable  demonstrations ;  and, 
as  soon  as  arms  and  accoutrements  were  safely  stored,  the  men 
were  furloughed  twelve  days.  It  is  moderate  to  intimate  that 
the  Fourteenth  made  itself  felt  in  the  State  for  the  next  ten 
days.  In  hundreds  of  homes  and  among  thousands  of  friends, 
welcomes  and  greetings  surpassed  any  thing  the  recipients  had 
ever  before  enjoyed. 

A  soldier  on  furlough  is  a  character  for  study;  and  he  was  a 
very  industrious  student,  himself,  of  every  means  of  enjoyment 
and  pleasant  notoriety.  On  this  occasion  the  soldiers  of  the 
Fourteenth  were  altogether  too  notorious  to  suit  a  certain  class 
in  close  towns,  politically.  These  carpers  were  suddenly  con 
verted  to  the  doctrine,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  government  troops 
to  remain  down  South  fighting  the  enemy,  and  not  to  be  coming 
home  by  regiments  to  meddle  in  politics.  It  was  but  just  pre 
viously  that  the  aforesaid  objectors  declared  it  impossible  to  ever 
whip  the  South,  and  that  the  act  of  sending  troops  to  subjugate 
our  brethren  was  a  crime. 

The  presence  of  the  Union  volunteers  at  the  polls  in  New 
Hampshire,  during  the  spring  election  of  1864,  was  a  sore  irri 
tant  to  those  who  were  desperately  bent  upon  blocking  the 
progress  of  the  war.  That  election  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
important  ever  held  in  that  State  ;  as  it  was  the  first  prophetic 
voice  of  the  people  in  the  presidential  campaign,  a  prophecy  of 
the  November  verdict  which  would  determine  the  issue  of  the 
tremendous  effort  to  suppress  Rebellion  and  crush  out  treason 
in  America.  Party  feeling  ran  high,  antagonisms  were  bitter; 
and  it  is  easily  believed  that  the  presence  of  the  Fourteenth 
'intensified  the  animosities  of  the  canvass.  And  why  ?  Citizens 
of  New  Hampshire  had  simply  returned  to  their  homes  to  cast 
a  lawful  ballot.  There  were  angry  discussions  and  numberless 
personal  collisions  on  town-meeting  day ;  for,  while  the  boys  did 


BULLETS  AND  BALLOTS. 

not  exactly  carry  to  the  polls  a  chip  on  each  shoulder,  they 
were  not  in  a  mood  to  be  jostled  to  any  great  extent :  and  the 
Copperheads  had  a  hard  time  of  it  where  the  soldiers  were 
numerous  enough  to  start  a  little  political  "  camp-fire  "  in  the 
midst  of  the  assembled  voters. 

The  scenes  in  the  various  town-meetings  where  the  soldiers 
appeared  were  highly  interesting,  often  amusing,  and  in  some 
places  pretty  exciting.  The  boys  in  blue  were  not  externally 
diffident  nor  modest  in  their  advocacy  of  the  war,  and  their 
denunciations  of  Northern  Copperheads  were  spoken  decidedly 
above  a  whisper.  It  was  an  uncomfortable  day  for  a  certain 
class  of  citizens  in  the  old  Granite  State.  There  is  no  doubt 
that  the  Fourteenth  efficiently  performed  the  service  expected, 
of  it  when  it  was  ordered  to  New  Hampshire,  and  it  is  a  fact  in 
its  history  that  these  soldier-voters  acted  with  entire  personal 
freedom  in  casting  their  ballots.  Those  who  persisted  in  voting 
according  to  old  predilections,  and  practically  against  the  gov 
ernment  they  were  fighting  for,  —  there  were  a  few  who  did, — 
were  in  no  way  proscribed  afterward. 

The  regiment  was  fortunate  in  this  opportunity  for  a  brief 
restoration  of  family  circles  and  the  enjoyment  of  family  life. 
To  a  large  proportion  of  the  Fourteenth  it  was  the  last  gather 
ing  about  their  firesides.  The  days  sped  with  more  fleetness 
than  the  hopes  of  a  Union  victory  at  Fredericksburg.  Again 
the  parting,  the  pain,  yes,  the  agony,  of  the  last  word  and  look 
—  and  the  men  rallied  around  their  colors  at  Concord,  March 
14.  It  was  a  wise  precaution  of  the  government  not  to  pay  off 
the  regiment  before  it  was  furloughed :  but,  on  the  return  to 
Concord,  the  United-States  paymaster  was  on  the  ground ;  and 
the  men  were  paid  in  full  to  March  1.  Nearly  every  man  was 
at  his  post  when  the  rolls  were  called,  and  there  were  only  a 
few  desertions.  A  year  and  a  half  of  service  had  weeded  out 
from  the  Fourteenth  most  of  its  useless  and  unworthy  material ; 
and,  although  it  left  the  State  the  second  time  more  than  two 
hundred  and  fifty  less  in  numbers  than  when  it  first  entered  the 
service,  it  was  a  stronger  organization  with  seven  hundred  men 
than  originally  with  nine  hundred  and  eighty. 


152  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Wednesday,  March  16,  the  Fourteenth  left  Concord  and  the 
State,  and  on  the  17th  went  into  the  barracks  in  New- York 
City,  already  referred  to.  The  three-days'  stay  in  that  city 
afforded  a  well-improved  opportunity  to  witness  and  enjoy  the 
excitements  of  Gotham.  Some  members  of  the  regiment,  who 
had  been  absent  on  detailed  duty,  or  were  about  to  return  from 
hospitals,  managed  to  evade  the  officers  who  were  on  the  alert 
to  secure  them,  and,  having  remained  in  seclusion  until  the  regi 
ment  sailed,  escaped  being  sent  to  Louisiana.  There  were 
several  such  cases. 

Sunday,  March  20,  seven  companies  of  the  Fourteenth  em 
barked  on  the  side-wheel  steamship  "  Daniel  Webster,"  for  New 
Prleans.  Tuesday  the  vessel  was  in  a  terrible  storm,  which 
continued  three  days,  disabling  the  ship,  and  threatening  de 
struction  to  all  on  board.  The  vessel  was  helpless,  the  crew 
powerless,  and  hope  almost  abandoned.  Saturday  the  storm 
was  over,  and  the  "  Daniel  Webster  "  was  able  to  move  slowly 
toward  a  port  of  relief.  Land  was  descried  Sunday,  at  nine 
A.M. ;  and  at  five  o'clock  the  same  afternoon  the  regiment 
reached  Hilton  Head,  and  entered  the  harbor  of  Port  Royal. 
The  troops  remained  aboard  the  ship  until  Monday  morning, 
when  they  disembarked,  and  marched  a  mile  in  the  deep,  yield 
ing  sand,  toward  the  eastern  side  of  the  island,  and  near  to  a 
palmetto-grove,  where  shelter-tents  were  pitched  in  the  sand ; 
the  regiment  remaining  there  four  days,  until  the  "  Daniel  Web 
ster"  could  be  repaired. 

Friday,  April  1,  the  Fourteenth  again  took  up  its  quarters 
on  the  unfortunate  steamship,  and,  strange  to  say,  with  no  re 
grets.  Hilton-Head  sand  had  reconciled  the  men  to  almost  any 
change.  The  vessel  did  not  quit  the  immense  government  wharf 
until  the  next  morning  at  8.30.  The  following  Sabbath  was  one 
of  the  finest  in  all  the  experience  of  the  regiment ;  and  through 
out  the  day  the  vessel  skirted  the  coast  of  Florida,  in  sight  of 
the  historic  shores  where  the  white  man  first  reared  a  settle 
ment  in  America. 

"  Peace  was  on  the  world  abroad: 
'Twas  the  holy  peace  of  God." 


THE    VOYAGE    TO  LOUISIANA.  153 

Tuesday  afternoon,  by  the  aid  of  a  pilot,  the  sinuosities  of  the 
entrance  to  Key-West  Harbor  were  experienced ;  and  at  five 
o'clock  anchor  was  dropped.  Not  until  Thursday,  the  7th, 
could  the  ship  find  its  opportunity  to  take  coal ;  and  then  it  ran 
up  to  the  wharf,  and  the  men  had  one  day  ashore.  The  privi 
lege  was  made  the  most  of;  and,  for  the  first  time,  the  boys  from 
the  Granite  Hills  wandered  through  fig-orchards  and  orange- 
groves,  with  fruit  lying  about  in  abundance.  The  semi-tropical 
climate,  and  the  strangeness  of  the  whole  scene,  furnished  too 
many  novelties  to  easily  crowd  into  twelve  hours.  Fort  Taylor, 
a  stout  stone  octagon  defence  of  the  harbor,  with  casemate  and 
barbette  guns,  was  visited  by  nearly  the  entire  regiment,  where 
Col.  Stark  Fellows,  formerly  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  was  in 
command  of  the  post. 

Friday,  April  8,  the  "Daniel  Webster"  left  Key  West,  sail 
ing  near  to  the  Dry  Tortugas,  where  several  unruly  members  of 
the  Fourteenth  were  confined  for  some  time  during  the  war, 
some  of  them  perhaps  unjustly.  At  noon  of  the  llth  the  muddy 
waters  of  the  Mississippi  were  discovered,  and  at  nine  P.M.  of 
the  same  day  the  renowned  forts  of  Jackson  and  St.  Philip 
were  passed.  At  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday, 
April  12,  the  Fourteenth  reached  the  Crescent  City,  and  gazed 
upon  its  curious  water-level  landings  and  more  curious  river- 
craft.  The  men  did  not  go  ashore,  much  to  their  disappoint 
ment  :  but  the  transport  steamed  up  the  river  six  miles,  to  Car- 
rollton,  where  the  regiment  landed,  and  went  into  camp  in  a 
clover-field  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  levee ;  the  designation 
being  Camp  Parapet. 

The  three  left  companies,  K,  E,  G,  did  not  embark  on  the 
"  Daniel  Webster,"  there  not  being  room,  and  were  transported 
on  the  "  Liberty."  They  had  a  safe  and  pleasant  passage,  ar 
riving  in  New  Orleans  in  advance  of  their  comrades,  who  sailed 
earlier. 


154  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


A  REGIMENT  AFLOAT. 

Casey's  tactics  were  sufficient  for  every  possible  movement 
emergency  —  on  land.  The  average  regiment  was  fairly  drilled 
in  all  essential  evolutions  of  the  line,  but  Casey's  tactics  pre 
supposed  terra  firma  as  a  base  of  operations.  Casey  was  set  at 
defiance,  was  buried  in  contempt,  the  moment  a  body  of  troops 
was  trundled  aboard  a  government  transport.  In  fact,  no  sys 
tem  of  tactics  ever  contemplated  the  motions  and  the  woes  of  a 
regiment  afloat.  It  is  quite  time  that  history  be  reversed,  in 
one  particular  at  least.  For  more  than  a  hundred  years  it  has 
been  a  recognized  proof  of  patriotism  to  abuse  the  Hessians  for 
an  attempt  to  aid  Britain  in  subjugating  the  colonies.  A  deli 
cate  sense  of  justice  suggests,  that,  instead  of  rearing  a  monu 
ment  on  American  soil  to  a  spy  because  he  was  not  smart 
enough  to  escape  Gen.  Washington's  noose,  it  will  be  a  better 
recognition  of  sterling  worth  to  set  up  a  slab  to  every  Hessian 
who  survived  the  transport  voyage  across  the  Atlantic ;  thus 
evincing  a  type  of  heroism  beside  which  the  deeds  of  Marathon 
are  not  worth  mentioning.  No  veteran  can  boast  of  a  rounded- 
out  and  complete  military  experience  unless  he  was  initiated 
into  the  noxious  mysteries  of  a  vessel  with  a  freight  consign 
ment  consisting  of  Union  soldiers.  The  evils  of  such  a  passage 
were  inseparable  from  the  situation,  and  the  government  fully 
met  all  reasonable  expectations  in  the  accommodations  afforded. 
There  were  so  many  uncertain  and  uncontrollable  factors  in  the 
problem  of  moving  a  thousand  men  by  sea  a  thousand  miles, 
that  no  surprise  should  be  felt  when  it  is  learned,  that  very  few 
entirely  agreeable  voyages  were  made  by  our  soldier  mariners. 
In  cool  weather,  with  a  smooth  sea,  a  short  voyage,  and  no 
crowding,  the  trip  could  be  made  with  tolerable  comfort.  The 
actual  experiences  rarely  combined  these  conditions. 

There  is  no  dearth  of  permanent  impressions  concerning  a 
livelv  voyage  where  a  large  number  of  men  were  huddled  into 
an  inadequate  space ;  pitched  into  an  utter  proiniscuousness  of 
undesirable  fraternity  ;  rolled,  shaken,  jostled,  and  tumbled  into 
a  dangerous  approach  to  "  Union  jelly ;  "  "  rocked  in  the  cradle 


ODORS  BETWEEN  DECKS.  155 

of  the  deep "  in  a  manner  devoid  of  all  poetry ;  refreshed  on 
condensed  sea-water,  —  the  vilest  decent  liquid  ever  brewed; 
lulled  to  rest  in  the  balmy  salubrity  of  a  between-decks'  atmos 
phere,  —  the  aroma  is  not  yet  out  of  our  nostrils. 

"  I  counted  two  and  seventy  stenches, 
All  well  defined,  and  several  stinks." 

The  sublimity  of  the  majestic  sea  outside,  and  the  nauseous 
nastiness  of  the  air  within,  remind  one  of  the  anomalous  con 
trast  implied  in  the  lines  of  Coleridge  :  — 

"  The  river  Rhine,  it  is  well  known, 
Doth  wash  your  city  of  Cologne  ; 
But  tell  me,  nymphs,  what  power  divine 
Shall  henceforth  wash  the  river  Rhine?  " 

Those  who  have  been  plunged  into  the  immeasurable  depths 
of  disgust  on  a  transport  passage,  wonder  what  attributes  of 
grandeur  will  suffice  to  remove  that  stain  from  Old  Ocean. 
The  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  transported  more  than  ten  thou 
sand  miles  by  water  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  and  may 
fairly  claim  to  have  found  its  "  sea-legs."  This  long  stretch  of 
water  campaigning  was  not  wholly  on  salt  water,  although  four 
respectable  voyages  are  included  ;  but  the  river-trips  of  the  regi 
ment  were  quite  comprehensive.  On  the  Thames,  Hudson, 
Delaware,  Susquehanna,  Potomac,  James,  Savannah,  and  Mis 
sissippi,  the  Fourteenth  moved,  as  it  participated  in  the  wide 
reaching  strategy  which  finally  crushed  the  historic  "anaconda." 
On  sound  and  river  steamboats,  and  in  ocean  transport  steam 
ships,  the  numerous  expeditions  were  made ;  while  one  style  of 
vessel  deserves  a  separate  and  especial  reference. 

A  Mississippi  steamboat  is  entirely  singular  and  unique.  It 
would  be  uncouth,  were  it  not  so  grand ;  and  its  interior  mag 
nificence  is  ample  recompense  for  unwieldy  smoke-stacks,  clumsy 
boilers,  and  ungainly  decking,  with  a  top-lofty  pilot-house  for  a 
monster  finial.  A  Mississippi  steamboat  sweeping  around  one 
of  the  great  bends  in  the  Father  of  Waters  is  a  majestic  figure, 
affording  one  of  the  finest  possible  spectacles  in  the  realm  of 


156  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

imagination.  A  trip  down  the  river  on  such  a  splendid  steamer 
as  the  "  Gray  Eagle "  is  an  experience  rare,  exhilarating, 
memorable.  It  was  one  of  the  pleasantest  passages  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  regiment,  and  the  congenial  chats  on  the  roomy 
decks  of  that  elegant  boat  come  home  with  a  peculiar  tender 
ness  to  the  survivors.  Sailing  smoothly,  but  with  a  mighty  im 
petus,  past  extensive  and  grand  old  plantations,  their  graceful 
and  romantic  mansions  adorning  the  banks;  sweeping  down 
between  immense  fields  of  corn  and  cane,  whose  straight  rows 
stretched  from  the  river  back  for  miles ;  the  scenery  diversified 
by  sugar-establishments,  orange-groves,  and  more  affluent  parks 
of  oak,  with  the  graceful  Southern  moss  adding  its  indescriba 
ble  charm,  —  such  a  picture  invited  the  appreciative  volunteer 
on  the  delightful  summer  evening  when  the  Fourteenth  was 
borne  on  toward  the  sanguinary  scenes  undreamed  of,  yet  just 
before.  The  occasion  was,  in  every  sense,  a  wonderful  excep 
tion  in  the  life  of  every  soldier  on  board.  It  was  an  experience 
entirely  at  variance  with  the  current  of  a  life-time.  It  made 
real  and  vivid  what  had  been,  previously,  entertained  only  in 
romance. 

It  was  decidedly  unusual  for  a  soldier  in  active  service  to  see 
any  thing  of  society  ;  yet  aboard  the  "  Gray  Eagle,"  on  the  night 
referred  to,  the  boys  were  regaled  by  glimpses  of  a  fairy  enter 
tainment.  A  good  orchestra  in  the  saloon  furnished  music  for 
a  brilliant  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen,  in  costly  apparel, 
tripping  through  the  mazes  of  a  gay  quadrille.  Strange  as  it 
may  appear,  it  was  a  novel  sight  to  nearly  all  save  the  officers, 
—  a  refined  woman,  in  any  proximity  to  soldiers*  The  music 
and  the  brilliant  spectacle  moved  the  men ;  and  they  gathered 
in  groups  or  couples,  and  talked  of  home,  of  service,  of  cam 
paigns  to  come,  of  the  problems  of  the  war,  on  a  plane  of 
thought  and  expression  manifestly  elevated  by  the  surroundings 
of  the  hour.  Such  accessories  revealed  a  noble  inner  life  in 
many  a  volunteer  who  in  general  never  manifested  other  than 
superficial  merit.  It  was  an  occasion  to  stir  all  tender  and 
noble  sentiment ;  and  fortunate  will  be  the  circumstances  of  the 
veterans  of  the  Fourteenth,  when  they  luxuriate  in  an  exist- 


MOONLIGHT  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI.  157 

ence  of  more  delightsome  dreaminess,  where  the  atmosphere 
was  heavy  with  the  sweet  odors  of  the  magnolia,  and  a  great 
variety  of  tropical  plants. 

Moonlight  voyaging  on  the  Mississippi  is  simply  incompara 
ble,  and  there  and  then  the  sunny  South  appeared  in  its  supreme 
loveliness.  Who  forgets  the  spectacle  witnessed  from  the  levees 
and  parapets  of  Carrollton,  at  night,  when  the  gardens  and  fig- 
groves  seemed  flooded  with  moonlight  of  a  quality  exotic  to 
New-England  latitudes,  and  a  great  steamboat  was  coming 
round  the  upper  bend,  its  hoarse,  unearthly  snorting  announcing 
its  approach  long  before  the  pair  of  tall  black  smoke-stacks 
loomed  up,  indicating  the  perplexing  sinuosities  of  its  track  ? 
Let  the  man  who  is  deficient  in  imagination  climb  the  levee 
above  New  Orleans,  and  watch  that  monster  forge  down  upon 
him,  with  its  unrivalled  grandeur  of  momentum ;  and,  if  there 
is  any  latent  poetry  in  his  constitution,  he  will  henceforth 

"  Find  tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks, 
Sermons  in  stones,  and  grace  in  every  thing." 

An  ocean  voyage,  under  the  most  favorable  conditions,  is 
never  wholly  agreeable ;  but  when  a  between-decks'  bunk, 
rather  than  a  state-room,  is  the  allotment,  the  discomfort  is  ag 
gravated  beyond  the  appreciation  of  those  who  have  never  tried 
the  experiment.  But  when  a  crowded  transport  encounters  a 
storm  at  sea,  becomes  disabled  and  helpless  in  the  uncon 
trollable  and  bewildering  fury  of  the  tempest,  the  horrors  of  the 
situation  are  beyond  all  description.  The  Fourteenth  Regi 
ment  sailed  out  from  New  York,  March  20,  1864,  on  the  "  Dan 
iel  Webster."  She  lay  anchored  in  the  North  River,  the  men 
being  put  aboard  by  tenders.  It  was  a  memorable  occasion  in 
the  lives  of  those  volunteers.  Probably  not  half  a  dozen  in  the 
regiment  had  ever  stepped  on  the  deck  of  an  ocean  steamer  be 
fore  that  morning.  Every  thing  was  strange,  and  far  removed 
from  all  previous  experience ;  but  some  of  the  novelties  would 
gladly  have  been  dispensed  with.  The  officers  occupied  the 
cabin  and  state-rooms ;  but  the  rank  and  file  were  marched  to 
the  forward  hatchway,  and  then  —  never  did  the  Fourteenth 


158  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Regiment  come  so  near  to  insubordination  as  when  it  looked 
down  that  hatchway.  There  was  a  decided  reluctance  to  being 
quartered  between  decks;  but  down  the  ladder  the  men  crept, 
in  obedience  to  orders.  There,  in  the  darkness,  they  found  the 
space  filled  with  rough  bunks,  in  three  tiers,  built  in  so  closely 
that  there  was  barely  room,  between  tiers,  for  passage. 

Probably  this  accommodation  was  the  best  practicable :  but 
the  senses  revolted  from  the  irremediable  closeness,  even  in  fine 
weather ;  while  this  sweat-stench-box,  with  men  packed  like  sar 
dines,  was  almost  horrible  in  a  storm.  The  "Daniel  Webster" 
had  not  reached  the  Narrows,  when  some  of  the  most  vigorous 
among  the  officers  and  men  grew  seasick.  There  was  a  good 
sea  on ;  and,  as  the  vessel  got  outside,  night  came  on,  with  a 
brisk  breeze  and  rising  waves.  First,  a  general  uneasiness ; 
then,  a  pronounced  and  almost  universal  disquietude  of  stom 
ach;  and,  ere  long,  a  positive  state  of  misery  was  reached. 
The  depths  of  woe  in  seasickness  can  best  be  studied  in  a  trans 
port  vessel,  with  victims  never  before  tossed  on*the  briny  deep. 

Plere  again  our  Bull-Run  hero,  who  knew  all  about  the  war, 
stepped  into  prominence.  He  spent  the  first  three  hours  after 
getting  under  way  in  bantering  all  about  him,  and  predicting 
the  horrors  of  the  coming  nausea.  He  was  an  old  salt,  so  to 
speak ;  he  had  been  on  a  voyage  before  ;  you  couldn't  start  him. 
In  six  hours  he  was  sucking  a  lemon;  in  eight  hours  his  stom 
ach  interviewed  him  frequently;  and  before  morning  he  was 
whining  like  a  ninny.  We  never  observed  more  of  ludicrous 
wretchedness  in  the  same  compass  than  aboard  that  steamer. 
The  utter  disgust  with  life  itself  was  comically  pitiful.  About 
one-third  of  the  regiment  were  helplessly  sick,  while  not  more 
than  one-fourth  entirely  escaped.  As  many  as  possible  remained 
on  deck,  and  the  rails  were  constantly  fringed  with  sufferers 
heaving  —  not  the  lead.  The  condition  of  things  below  was 
indescribable. 

The  evils  of  seasickness  were  trifling,  however,  compared 
with  the  aggravated  horrors  surrounding  a  great  storm  at  sea. 
We  always  believed  that  the  captain's  assertion  was  true  when 
he  declared  that  the  gale  which  so  nearly  sent  the  "Daniel 


A   FOUNDERING   SHIP.  159 

Webster"  to  the  bottom  was  the  severest  he  ever  encountered 
in  a  thirty-years'  experience.  Our  confidence  in  his  opinion 
has  been  somewhat  shaken  by  the  consideration  that  some  sea- 
captains  are  in  the  habit  of  calling  the  last  storm  the  worst  one 
they  ever  saw.  It  is  certain,  however,  that  the  "  Daniel  Web 
ster  "  barely  escaped  foundering  off  Cape  Hatteras  in  one  of  the 
most  fearful  tempests  which  ever  visited  that  coast.  No  battle 
conceivable  would  involve  the  horrors  and  despair  of  the  forty- 
eight  hours  of  the  vessel's  helplessness,  when,  lying  in  the  trough 
of  mighty  seas,  she  was  beaten,  buffetted,  and  pounded ;  while 
the  men  in  agony  expected  that  the  next  tremendous  wave 
would  send  her  under  forever. 

A  striking  contrast  in  the  men  was  then  evidenced.  The 
majority  met  the  danger  quietly,  being  brave,  alert,  steady; 
some  were  even  jocose,  save  in  the  darkest  moment ;  but  the 
abject  terror  of  the  usually  most  blatant,  boastful,  and  profane, 
was  contemptible,  even  with  one  foot  in  a  watery  grave.  When 
the  order  was  giv^n  to  send  all  the  men  below,  and  fasten  down 
the  hatches,  the  climax  of  the  dreadful  situation  was  reached, 
and  the  best  stuff  in  the  regiment  trembled.  To  be  drowned 
between  decks  in  the  night,  like  rats  in  a  trap,  with  no  fighting 
chance,  was  a  fate  from  which  the  stoutest  quailed.  The  im 
prisoned  men  were  face  to  face  with  the  sheerest  desperation, 
and  were  surely  in  the  direst  extremity.  The  after-works  of 
the  ship  were  swept  away ;  the  port  paddle-box  was  stove  in ;  the 
mainsail  was  carried  away ;  we  lost  binnacle,  compass,  and  other 
instruments  ;  the  engine  was  disabled  :  and  the  sea  was  lashed  to 
an  awful  fury.  In  this  strait  scores  of  men  manifested  a  cour 
age  which  gave  them  an  added  dignity  for  all  after-time,  and 
whose  lustre  was  crowned  on  the  battle-fields  of  later  months ; 
but  the  faint-hearted  cannot  recall  that  trying  period  with  pride. 
Men  who  were  commonly  reckless  and  blasphemous  now  prayed 
loudly,  fervently,  and  long  for  help  and  deliverance;  but,  when 
terra  firma  was  reached,  they  were  as  profane  as  they  had  been 
prayerful. 

"  When  the  Devil  was  sick,  the  Devil  a  monk  would  be: 
When  the  Devil  got  well,  the  devil  a  monk  was  he." 


160  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Some  of  the  protestations  of  that  desperate  time  would  not 
read  well  to  those  who  have  now  got  twenty  years  away  from 
that  storm.  The  vow  was  solemnly  made,  that,  if  they  ever  got 
on  shore  again  alive,  they  would  never  go  a-fishing  in  a  small 
boat  on  a  New-Hampshire  mill-pond.  Others  declared  they 
would  be  perfectly  willing  to  go  into  battle  every  day  of  the 
week  if  they  could  be  guaranteed  a  survival  of  that  gale.  To 
those  who  could  rise  above  fear,  there  was  a  strange  sublimity  in 
the  bewildering  wildness  of  the  scene,  a  towering  majesty  of  Old 
Ocean  in  the  dread  exercise  of  a  power  never  before  conceived 
of,  a  revelation  of  the  Eternal  One  calculated  to  fill  the  soul 
with  an  awe  never  more  to  subside.  It  was  a  spectacle  surpass 
ing  all  else  that  is  grand  to  the  eye  of  man. 

In  the  midst  of  the  sublimity  of  Nature's  mad  tempest-throes, 
and  the  extremity  and  terror  of  the  human  cargo,  there  was 
large  room  for  absurdities ;  and  the  room  was  well  taken.  A 
storm  at  sea  tries  the  timber  of  men  as  surely  as  it  does  that  of 
the  vessel.  Every  side  of  character  was  illustrated  during  that 
voyage,  and  the  comical  parts  of  the  drama  were  well  sustained. 
One  poor  fellow  so  far  lost  his  wits  in  preparing  to  leave  this 
life,  that  he  turned  over  all  his  valuables  to  a  comrade,  with  the 
earnest  request  that  he  give  them  to  his  family.  Some  acted  a 
role  without  previous  preparation  or  consent.  Company  F  had 
a  heavy,  slow  snail  of  a  private,  who  never  did  but  two  things 
with  any  rapidity,  —  eating  and  snoring.  He  never  was  known 
to  take  his  musket  apart,  clean  it,  and  assemble  it  again  in  the 
same  day ;  but  a  Cape  Hatteras  double  and  twisted  gale  was 
sufficient  to  thrill  even  that  phlegmatic,  good-natured,  and  really 
popular  rotundity :  at  any  rate,  the  seat  of  his  breeches  got 
thoroughly  magnetized.  He  came  on  deck  just  after  the  waves 
had  reached  the  acme  of  their  rise,  and  the  ship  was  rolling  its 
worst,  being  at  the  mercy  of  cross-seas.  Private  Snail  had  no 
trouble  in  mounting  the  hatchway  ladder :  in  fact,  he  came  on 
deck  as  though  fired  up  from  the  hold  out  of  a  mortar.  A  tre 
mendous  lurch  of  the  vessel  did  it.  If  our  hero  had  any  "sure 
holt,"  it  was  sitting  down ;  and  in  that  posture  he  landed,  if  that 
verb  could  be  used  out  of  sight  of  land  arid  of  all  hope  of  ever 


A    SHIFTING   CARGO.  161 

seeing  even  a  handful  of  earth  again.  The  same  wave  that 
hoisted  him  from  between-decks  sent  him  flying  down  the  por 
tentous  incline  to  the  port  side  of  the  vessel.  He  arrived  there 
precisely  in  time  not  to  clutch  the  rail  before  another  mighty 
billow  reversed  the  see-saw,  and  sent  him  to  the  starboard  side. 
The  lurch  was  so  great  that  even  Snail's  inertia  was  sensibly 
overcome,  and  he  traversed  that  deck  with  considerable  speed. 
He  was  too  clumsy  to  roll ;  but  he  could  slide,  with  the  Atlantic 
ocean  behind  him  for  a  motor.  And  he  did  slide.  He  seemed 
to  realize  that  he  was  in  motion  soon  enough  to  make  a  lunge 
for  the  starboard  lower  rigging  ;  but  another  wave  was  too  quick 
for  him,  and  back  he  went.  He  surveyed  air-lines  across  that 
deck  three  times,  and  the  performance  closed  only  when  a 
friendly  rope  was  thrown  about  him  at  the  starboard  terminus 
of  his  remarkable  shuttle-track.  He  begged  pairs  of  cast-off 
pantaloons,  from  which  he  secured  patches  for  his  terribly 
racked  breeches. 

The  heavy  swell,  the  dying  wind,  the  silence  and  the  smooth 
sea,  the  slow  run  into  Port  Royal,  came  after  the  storm.  Camp 
ing  on  a  desert  of  deep-shifting,  wind-blown  sand,  waiting  a 
week  for  the  vessel's  repair,  added  to  our  stock  of  experience, 
but  not  to  comfort  or  peace  of  mind.  Palm-trees,  a  splendid 
harbor,  and  sand  filled  our  eyes,  principally  the  latter.  Sand 
everywhere ;  sand  for  mattress,  pillow,  and  coverlet.  Shelter- 
tents  were  the  only  protection  afforded,  and  a  rain-storm  came 
on  to  heighten  the  impressions  of  the  place.  Strange  to  tell, 
the  men  re-embarked  on  the  "  Daniel  Webster  "  gladly ;  and  no 
lovelier  day  or  fairer  sea  ever  tempted  the  willing  mariner  than 
that  on  which  the  Fourteenth  steamed  out  of  Port  Royal,  on  its 
way  to  the  still  sunnier  South. 

The  second  day  out  we  witnessed  a  burkl  at  sea.  The  band 
played  a  dirge  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  the  shrouded  body  was 
laid  on  a  plank  in  an  open  port.  The  splash,  the  plunge,  the 
unmarked  entombment,  completed  a  burial  most  beautiful  and 
fitting.  Stopping  for  coal  at  Key  West,  we  revelled  in  the 
orange-groves  of  Florida,  and  visited  Col.  Fellows  and  his  col 
ored  regiment  at  Fort  Taylor.  Steaming  across  the  Gulf, 


162  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

miles  before  land  was  descried,  the  great  circle  of  muddy  water 
announced  that  we  had  entered  the  current  of  the  Mississippi. 
Previously  we  had  noted  with  wonder  the  clear  line  of  demar 
cation  between  the  Gulf  Stream  and  abutting  water.  The  delta 
was  entered  at  Pass  L'Outre;  and  the  "Daniel  Webster"  had 
survived  a  great  peril,  and  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  was  safe 
from  all  the  threatened  dangers  of  an  eventful  voyage. 


The  first  month  of  the  Fourteenth's  stay  in  Louisiana  was 
delightful.  The  village  of  Carrollton,  so  different  from  any  New- 
England  town,  was  a  source  of  interest  and  pleasure  to  the  men. 
The  A  tents  were  pitched  on  a  well-turfed  mead  adjacent  to  a 
fig-orchard,  and  the  magnolia  and  other  tropical  flowering  ver 
dure  loaded  the  air  with  a  wondrous  and  delicious  perfume.  In 
some  respects  the  New-Hampshire  volunteers  found  themselves 
in  a  fairy-land.  The  unhealthy  season  had  not  arrived,  and 
Southern  foliage  was  just  entering  upon  its  full  luxuriance. 
Those  incomparable  moonlight  evenings  on  the  levee,  with  the 
dark,  swift,  turbulent  rush  of  waters,  bearing  great  monsters  of 
war  and  traffic,  on  one  side  ;  and  the  beautiful  gardens,  gay  bal 
conies,  stirring  military  music  of  the  Fourteenth's  band,  and 
the  wild  melodies  of  recently  freed  darkies,  on  the  other,  — 
such  spectacles  for  a  time  quite  reconciled  the  Union  volunteer 
to  a  post  of  duty  in  the  defences  of  New  Orleans. 

The  Fourteenth  was  too  late  to  participate  in  the  movement 
of  the  army  under  Gen.  Banks  up  the  Red  River.  Troops  had 
been  drawn  from  the  vicinity  of  New  Orleans  so  thoroughly,  to 
swell  the  column  of  the  great  expedition,  that  the  city  was  left 
without  adequate  protection  ;  especially  as  the  Rebels  in  the 
state  of  Mississippi  would  be  almost  sure  to  improve  the  oppor 
tunity,  not  only  to  make  a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  threatened 
army  of  Dick  Taylor,  but  also  to  make  a  desperate  assault  upon 
New  Orleans,  and  possibly  effect  its  recapture.  To  avert  so 
serious  a  catastrophe,  the  Fourteenth  was  stationed  in  Camp 
Parapet,  behind  the  imposing  line  of  earthworks  running  from 


PASS  MANCHAC.  163 

the  Mississippi  to  Lake  Pontchartrain.  During  the  first  few 
weeks  in  Carrollton  excellent  health  prevailed  in  the  regiment; 
but  as  the  season  advanced,  and  the  tropical  heat  prevailed,  an 
unacclimated  body  of  men  like  the  Fourteenth  necessarily  suf 
fered  terribly.  The  best  water  to  be  had  was  from  the  Missis 
sippi  ;  and  that,  despite  its  twenty-five  per  cent  of  mud,  was 
tolerably  agreeable,  and  perhaps  not  unwholesome.  During 
its  stay  in  this  camp,  the  regiment  was  drilled  by  companies,  and 
occasionally  in  battalion ;  although  no  systematic  exercise  in 
tactics  was  undertaken.  The  Fourteenth  had  practically  done 
with  drilling  ;  and  what  efficiency  it  ever  possessed,  in  evolution 
and  manual,  was  attained  previous  to  the  Louisiana  campaign. 

The  regiment,  while  in  Camp  Parapet,  performed  guard, 
picket,  and  escort  duty.  The  latter  was  confined  to  railroad 
trains,  principally  to  those  on  the  N.  O.,  J.,  and  G.  No  Railroad, 
which  ran  from  New  Orleans,  north,  between  Lakes  Pont 
chartrain  and  Maurepas,  to  Jackson,  Miss.  The  road  was 
open  as  far  as  the  Pass  Manchac,  which  connected  the  two 
lakes.  Every  train  was  run  with  a  strong  guard  in  each  car ; 
and  the  pass  was  defended  by  half-moon  breastworks,  on  which 
ordnance  was  mounted.  Manchac  was  a  lively  and  peculiar  im 
provised  hamlet-post,  with  every  mark  of  frontierism,  and  built 
on  stilts.  Aside  from  the  unfortunate  human  beings  who  tar 
ried  there,  the  atmosphere  above  was  crowded  with  mosquitoes, 
and  the  waters  beneath  were  alive  with  alligators.  Betwixt 
the  two,  there  was  no  happy  spot  for  a  decent  man.  Of  all  the 
curious  aggregations  of  buildings,  some  of  the  mushroom  ham 
lets  among  the  Louisiana  bayous,  during  the  war,  were,  par  ex 
cellence,  nondescript  and  singular.  Yet  they  were  busy  hives  ; 
and  a  Yankee  was  sure  to  be  found  somewhere  about,  the  mas 
ter  spirit  and  efficient  organizer.  Along  the  line  of  road  under 
consideration  a  transient  lumber  interest  was  thriving ;  arid  saw 
mills,  which  almost  floated,  were  sending  their  busy  hum  among 
the  graceful,  moss-fringed  timber  of  that  region.  The  railroad, 
for  miles,  was  built  on  piling :  and  from  the  trains  the  Four 
teenth  boys  enjoyed  rare  sport  in  shooting  —  at  —  alligators; 
for  a  point-blank  shot  from  a  good  rifle,  on  the  back  of  one  of 


164  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  mature  monsters,  made  no  more  impression  than  the  prick 
of  a  pin  on  a  buffalo's  back,  —  if  any  one  ever  got  near  enough 
to  a  live  bison  to  try  the  experiment.  The  details  for  train- 
guard  were  inclined  to  be  pretty  well  satisfied  with  the  duty 
assigned  them. 

April  20  Lieut.  E.  D.  Hadley  took  command  of  Company  F, 
which  he  retained  until  disabled  by  wounds.  On  the  29th 
Capt.  F.  T.  Barker  of  Company  A,  having  resigned  his  com 
mission,  left  for  home ;  and,  on  the  27th  of  May,  Lieut.  H.  S. 
Paul  assumed  command  in  his  stead.  The  duties  above  enu 
merated  were  performed  by  the  regiment  until  the  last  of  May. 
The  28th  of  that  month  it  was  relieved,  at  all  its  posts,  by  the 
Twentieth  U.  S.  C.  troops,  and  the  Fourteenth  R.  I.  Heavy 
Artillery,  colored. 

The  Fourteenth  was  destined  for  a  different  and,  as  then 
believed,  a  more  sanguinary  service.  May  20  Gen.  Canby  su 
perseded  Gen.  Banks,  as  commander  of  the  department;  and 
the  great  Red-river  campaign  was  at  an  inglorious  end.  There 
were  as  many  reasons  for  the  failure  as  there  were  prominent 
officers  in  the  expedition.  The  army  had  returned  to  quarters 
on  the  river-bank ;  the  main  body  of  the  troops  being  concen 
trated  at  Morganzia  Bend,  just  below  the  confluence  of  the  Red 
and  Mississippi  Rivers. 

June  7  the  Fourteenth  embarked  on  the  river  steamboat 
"  N.  Longworth ; "  and  at  noon  she  swung  off  from  the  levee, 
and  snorted  defiance  to  the  swift  current  of  the  Mississippi. 
Up  the  river,  past  Baton  Rouge  ;  rounding  the  ominous  bend  of 
Port  Hudson,  with  its  frowning,  but  now  silenced,  batteries ; 
doubling,  twisting,  receding,  and  advancing,  grandly  sweeping 
round  astonishing  loops  in  the  Father  of  Waters  ;  up,  two  hun 
dred  miles  from  New  Orleans,  the  Fourteenth  sailed,  and  landed 
at  Morganzia,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river,  June  8.  It  was  a 
delightful  twenty-hours'  passage. 

The  regiment  camped  on  a  rising,  uneven  piece  of  ground, 
partially  covered  with  scrub-oaks,  situated  between  the  river 
and  the  levee,  which  at  this  point  runs  half  a  mile  from  the 
river-bank.  The  camp  sloped  toward  the  west  and  the  level 


CAMP  AT  MORGANZIA.  165 

parade-ground  abutting  the  levee.  A  view  of  the  Fourteenth's 
camp  at  Morganzia  is  given  herewith.  There  the  regiment 
was  incorporated  into  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  being  as 
signed  to  the  second  brigade,  second  division.  Col.  Wilson  of 
the  Fourteenth,  being  the  senior  colonel,  took  command  of  the 
second  brigade.  At  that  time  there  were  twenty  thousand 
troops  in  camp  at  Morganzia,  and  large  accessions  were  soon 
afterward  made.  Gen.  William  H.  Emory,  who  had  previously 
commanded  a  division,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps ;  and  on  the  llth  of  June  he  held  a  grand 
review,  with  the  aim  of  consolidating  and  increasing  the  effi 
ciency  of  the  corps  organization.  The  review  took  place  on  a 
broad  plain  two  miles  from  the  camp  of  the  Fourteenth.  The 
summer  heat  was  intense,  and  the  men  suffered  almost  to  ex 
haustion ;  a  heavy  shower  finally  drenching  the  entire  army. 
The  review  was  the  grandest  parade  which  the  regiment  had 
ever  witnessed ;  and,  considering  that  the  corps  had  just  passed 
through  the  vicissitudes  of  an  unfortunate  campaign,  the  seve 
ral  organizations  presented  a  remarkably  good  appearance. 

Two  days  later,  on  the  13th,  Major-Gen.  Daniel  E.  Sickles, 
who  lost  a  leg  at  Gettysburg,  arrived  at  Morganzia,  and  re 
viewed  the  Nineteenth  Corps.  These  marshallings  of  a  great 
army  corps  in  battle  array,  and  parading  of  the  different  bat 
talions  together,  was  beneficial,  and  even  necessary  in  the  light 
of  subsequent  events.  An  esprit  du  corps  was  engendered,  which 
proved  its  potency  on  later  fields.  It  was  a  splendid  pageant, 
thirty  thousand  men  in  line,  all  veteran  troops.  Gen.  Sickles, 
riding  with  one  stirrup  empty,  and  his  orderly  following  with 
crutches,  was  the  recipient  of  a  hearty  ovation ;  and  the  battal 
ions  marched  in  review  in  columns  by  division.  If,  on  the 
previous  occasion,  the  heat  was  intense,  on  the  13th  it  had  be 
come  nearly  intolerable.  The  men  wilted  like  cabbage-leaves, 
and  those  accustomed  to  the  use  of  stimulants  succumbed  to  an 
extraordinary  degree.  Had  the  inarch  not  been  conducted  with 
great  prudence,  and  the  utmost  consideration  been  shown  by 
the  commanding-officers,  a  wholesale  prostration  must  have 
resulted  from  the  exposure.  The  sickly  season  was  upon  the 


166  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

army ;  and  the  Fourteenth,  unaccustomed  to  the  latitude  and 
climate,  suffered  peculiarly.  Malarial  and  typhoid  fevers,  dys 
entery  and  diarrhoea,  swept  off  the  weaker  ones  at  a  fearful  rate  ; 
and  some  of  the  best  physiques  in  the  regiment  surrendered. 
The  service  of  the  Fourteenth  in  Louisiana  was  more  deadly 
than  any  active  campaign  in  more  northerly  latitudes  could 
have  proved,  even  with  frequent  battles. 

June  16  the  regiment  was  visited  by  the  inspector-genera? of 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  and  its  arms  and  accoutrements 
pronounced  in  excellent  condition.  It  was  found  that  the 
Eighth  N.  H.  was  in  another  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps, 
and  mutual  visits  were  paid  by  members  of  the  two  battalions. 
A  pleasant  river  expedition  varied  the  hot  and  unhealthy  mo 
notony  of  camp-life  at  Morganzia,  although  two  or  three  fine 
brigade  dress-parades  were  held  when  the  weather  permitted. 
On  the  17th  Capt.  Chandler  took  command  of  Company  A. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi  to  navigation,  on  the 
fall  of  Port  Hudson  July  9,  1863,  the  government,  as  well  as 
private  enterprise,  had  been  constantly  increasing  the  number 
of  boats  plying  between  Cairo  and  New  Orleans.  It  was  most 
important  to  preserve  an  open  channel  and  safe  transit.  The 
Rebels  were  never  idle  long  at  a  time  ;  and,  after  the  close  of  the 
Red-river  campaign,  they  amused  themselves  by  planting  bat 
teries  on  the  river-bank  at  annoying  points,  and  stationing 
sharp-shooters  where  they  could  coolly  pick  off  the  pilots.  So 
fatal  was  this  device  growing  to  be,  that  every  boat  on  the  river 
lined  its  pilot-house  with  boiler-iron.  To  break  up  these  infest 
ing  guerilla  assassins,  the  army  co-operated  with  the  navy; 
three  monitors  being  supported  by  the  second  division  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  on  transports,  including  detachments  of  cav 
alry  and  a  battery  of  light  artillery. 

The  expedition  embarked  on  the  evening  of  the  19th,  the 
Fourteenth  going  aboard  the  "Joseph  Pierce."  At  midnight 
the  fleet  left  the  landing,  and  proceeded  slowly  up  the  river ;  the 
gunboats  being  unable  to  attain  much  speed.  On  the  20th  the 
troops  reached  Tunica  Bend,  where  a  Rebel  battery  had  been 
located.  The  cavalry  and  a  portion  of  the  infantry  landed,  and 


THE    WORTH  OF  A   LETTER.  167 

made  a  reconnoissance  occupying  most  of  the  day ;  the  trans 
ports  lying  at  the  opposite  shore.  The  Fourteenth  remained 
on  the  boat.  At  night,  in  pursuance  of  a  preconcerted  signal, 
the  transports  recrossed  the  river,  arid  received  on  board  the 
reconnoitring  party,  which  failed  to  meet  or  discover  any  force 
of  the  enemy.  The  flotilla  then  steamed  up  the  river  all  night, 
and,  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  arrived  at  Fort 
Adams  in  the  State  of  Mississippi.  Here  the  whole  force  landed, 
and  bivouacked  in  a  pleasant  grove  near  the  river.  The  day 
was  spent  there  agreeably,  while  the  cavalry  detachment  scoured 
the  adjacent  territory,  but  found  no  Rebels.  Just  after  dark  the 
troops  were  ordered  aboard  the  transports,  and  the  prows  were 
headed  down  stream.  Stopping  on  the  way  to  wood  up,  the 
famous  picturesqueness  of  a  Mississippi  steamboat,  taking  wood 
in  the  flare  of  flambeaux,  and  amid  the  droll  songs  and  shouts 
of  the  wood-gangs,  was  vividly  spread  before  the  boys  of  the 
Fourteenth.  At  ten  o'clock  that  night,  the  expedition  was 
safely  back  in  Morganzia. 

LETTERS  FROM  HOME. 

In  primitive  New-England  times  it  doubtless  was  a  notable 
event  in  many  a  house  when  a  letter  was  brought  from  the 
post-office,  which  was  never  visited  oftener  than  once  a  week. 
The  conditions  and  relations  of  our  fathers  made  small  demands 
upon  the  postman ;  and  country  home-life  drifted  down  the  de 
cades  to  1861,  not  much  affected  by  the  mails  nor  familiarized 
with  frequent  correspondence.  But  who  can  forget  the  trans 
formation  that  was  wrought  throughout  the  land  by  the  deple 
tion  of  homes  when  stretches  of  dangerous  distances  separated 
the  man  or  the  boy  from  a  bereft,  and  ofttimes  desolate,  fireside, 
—  a  gulf  which  nothing,  save  the  precious  posted  missive,  was 

allowed  to  span  ? 

*'  Never  morning  wore  to  evening, 
But  some  heart  did  break." 

Men  squatted,  a  la  Turque,  on  divans  of  turf  or  earth,  or  even 
muddy  logs,  about  camp-fires  under  the  cold  stars,  whose  un- 


168  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

fathomable  distances  suggested  to  homesick  warriors  their  far 
away  homes,  sacred  beyond  their  best  thought,  and  yearned  for 
as  never  before.  And  they  wrote  home.  Clumsy  fingers,  which 
hadn't  uncorked  an  ink-bottle  since  the  owner's  last  one  was 
shied  out  of  the  schoolhouse  window  years  before,  wrestled 
with  exasperating  pen,  delusive  ink,  and  intractable  paper. 
Crouching  in  tent  or  stockade-bunk,  in  barracks,  or  about  the 
crackling  rail-fires,  our  matter-of-fact  volunteers  whipped  their 
distracted  thoughts  into  letter  composition.  Minds  and  hearts 
were  stirred  as  never  before ;  holier  thoughts  were  cherished, 
and  tenderer  feelings  surged  through  the  soul,  than  had  ever 
ennobled  those  whose  tears  were  the  embellishments  of  their 
missives,  and  whose  hearts  were  sealed  and  posted  away  in  that 
envelope  to  the  farmhouse,  now  a  palace  in  imagination,  or  to 
the  village  cottage,  —  a  paradise,  but  guarded  by  the  flaming 
sword  of  a  three-years'  enlistment.  Men  learned  to  reiterate 
the  love  which  they  had  not  whispered  for  many  years  since  the 
halcyon  days  of  courtship.  This  subtle  and  cherished  bond  of 
communion  with  home  and  friends  was  potent  in  building  man 
liness  and  in  cheering  our  volunteers. 

The  post-office  department  was  a  school,  and  every  letter  a 
lesson,  whose  culture  turned  numberless  lives  into  better  paths. 
And  those  silent  yet  eloquent  messengers  from  camp,  bivouac, 
and  battle-field,  accomplished  their  mission  in  a  million  homes. 
Wife,  mother,  sister,  betrothed,  were  sustained  through  the  un 
utterable  strain  of  the  long  suspense,  and  cheered  in  this 
unmeasured  abnegation  by  letters  from  the  seat  of  war.  But 
consider  the  reciprocal  effect.  Look  in  upon  a  company  street 
when  the  word  flashes  down  the  color-line,  and  darts  like  an 
electric  current  among  the  tents,  that  "  The  mail  is  in  !  " 

Except  when  stationed  at  central  points,  and  in  proximity  to 
regular  and  uninterrupted  lines  of  communication,  a  regiment 
received  its  mails  irregularly.  While  in  the  field,  a  week,  a 
month,  might  pass  without  a  mail's  arrival.  But  the  sutler,  a 
headquarters'  orderly,  ambulance-master,  quartermaster-sergeant, 
or  perchance  a  returning  furloughed  officer,  brings  from  the 
base  of  supplies  or  from  Washington,  a  long-delayed,  much- 


A   NIGHT  CHARACTER   STUDY.  169 

expected  mail.  The  chaplain  is  postmaster;  and,  when  a  mail  is 
to  be  disbursed,  the  chaplain's  messages  are  universally  welcome. 
The  sergeant-major  notifies  each  company's  "orderly"  that  the 
mail  is  in,  although  every  private  has  already  received  and 
reported  the  glad  information  forty  or  fifty  times.  Eagerness 
changes  to  impatience,  which  in  turn  gives  way  to  clamor.  "  Is 
it  going  to  take  all  night  to  distribute  that  mail?"  voices  the 
general  feeling  of  anxiety,  only  relieved  when  ten  first  sergeants 
are  seen  scattering  from  the  chaplain's  tent.  Tattoo  has  been  left 
an  hour  behind;  taps  have  peremptorily  warned  all  lights  out; 
it  is  a  dark,  black  night ;  but,  as  the  "  orderly  "  steps  to  the  end 
of  the  double  line  of  tents,  every  man  is  out  from  his  bunk  and 
blankets,  and  huddling  about  him  as  he  stands  with  a  fat  hand 
ful  of  precious  letters,  while  half  a  dozen  newspapers  are  tucked 
beneath  his  arm.  Half  a  score  of  the  most  eager  produce  their 
adamantine  candles,  which,  held  over  the  envied  official's  shoul 
der,  enable  them  to  catch  a  first  glimpse  of  the  invaluable 
missives,  and  discount  the  tantalizing  distribution. 

Stand  well  back  in  the  darkness,  and  study  that  tremulously 
eager  half-hundred  men,  self-banished  from  home,  whose  army- 
life  has  discovered  to  them  a  tenderer  spot  in  their  own  souls 
than  they  ever  dreamed  of  before.  What  a  scene !  romantic, 
thrilling,  weird !  A  sentry's  beat,  a  distant  challenge,  the 
clanking  sabre  of  a  passing  cavalryman,  alone  breaks  the  silence, 
which,  in  this  group  of  waiting  men,  is  hushed  to  a  painful 
stillness.  Note  those  weather-tried  countenances.  The  glim 
mer  of  candles  athwart  the  fantastic,  faintly  lighted  picture 
shows  strange  blendings  of  light  and  shadow.  There  are  stern 
features  and  delicate-lined  faces  there ;  some  pale  with  eager 
ness,  all  expectant;  eloquent  with  an  inexpressible  longing. 
There  are  some  who  affect  indifference.  These,  when  returning 
to  their  tents  empty-handed,  take  pains  to  declare  loudly,  "  I 
didn't  expect  any  thing  by  this  mail."  Poor  fellows  !  they  go 
to  their  bunks  with  something  like  a  heavy  piece  of  lead  in  their 
hearts.  As  the  names  are  called,  the  favored  ones  cry  out, 
"  Give  it  to  me  !  "  and  the  hand's  clutch  upon  the  letter  smooths 
the  furrows  on  the  face.  Some  get  two,  and  even  three ;  and 


1TO  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

how  they  are  envied!  It  would  touch  even  a  hard  heart  to 
observe  the  disappointment,  not  to  be  concealed,  as  the  pile  of 
letters  diminishes,  and  the  expected  one  is  not  among  them. 
The  last  letter  is  snatched :  the  papers  are  unnoticed.  There  is 
light  in  some  tents;  and  others  are  dark,  but  not  so  dark  as  the 
mood  of  those  whose  homes  are  a  thousand  miles  farther  away 
than  ten  minutes  ago :  and  the  year  of  jubilee  slips  away  into 
the  hopeless  stretches  of  the  future. 

No  civilian  can  estimate  the  worth  of  a  letter  from  home  to 
the  discouraged,  homesick,  or  diseased  soldier.  To  the  ema 
ciated  ones  it  was  a  better  tonic  than  the  inevitable  quinine, 
and  letters  odorous  of  native  hill  or  valley  often  renewed  hope 
and  restored  health.  A  cheerful  letter  aroused  to  energy  and 
steadied  the  whole  man.  It  was  a  sermon,  a  prayer,  a  benedic 
tion,  a  guardian  angel,  restraining  from  evil,  and  holding  the 
soldier  up  to  manhood's  level.  Let  it  be  thought  no  exaggeration 
to  affirm  that  the  bones  of  thousands  of  Union  soldiers  are  scat 
tered  through  the  South,  —  lives  which  might  have  been  saved 
by  a  timely,  encouraging  letter  from  home,  or  from  some  cher 
ished  friend.  The  government  was  shrewd,  as  well  as  graceful, 
in  passing  the  volunteers'  letters  free  of  postage.  No  mention 
has  been  made  of  the  speculator  in  loyal  remembrances,  who 
took  advantage  of  a  universal  interest  in  the  soldier,  and  rolled 
up  a  correspondence-list  of  fifty  or  a  hundred,  "just  for  fun." 
This  was  a  "loose  expectoration"  of  tender  literature  wonder 
ful  to  contemplate,  and  of  little  profit  to  any  one. 

We  have  said  that  all  in  the  camp  impetuously  turned  out  at 
the  cry  of  "  Mail ! "  No,  not  all.  In  nearly  every  company 
there  were  some  who  never  wrote,  never  received,  a  letter. 
Among  these  peculiar  ones  were  numbered  those  whose  grain 
was  fine  enough  to  keenly  feel  the  deprivation.  Some  were  so 
stolid  and  ignorant  as  to  little  appreciate  the  subtle  chords  which 
bound  the  legions  of  the  North  to  those  far  from  whom  they 
even  dared  to  die.  But  such  were  few:  and,  in  contemplating 
the  bars  which  set  men  apart  from  those  influences  which  unite 
in  community  and  brotherhood,  it  may  still  be  said  that  the  boy 
in  blue  who  trod  his  beat  and  filled  his  gap  in  battle  through 


NINETEENTH  ARMY  CORPS.  171 

the  terrible  years  of  strife,  sending  and  receiving  no  message  of 
friendship  or  love,  was  indeed  and  fearfully  alone  among  tens 
of  thousands ;  he  served  his  country,  often  nobly;  but  his  pulse- 
beat  was  not  in  time  with  the  gentle  and  the  strong ;  he  lived 
in  a  surpassing  and  pitiable  isolation.  To  such  a  man  the  com 
panionships  of  the  army  were  a  society  boon  beyond  any  thing 
lie  had  previously  enjoyed ;  and  could  he  have  felt  the  spur  of 
a  constant,  sympathetic  correspondence,  who  shall  say  how 
much  he  would  have  been  enlarged  as  a  man,  and  bettered  for 
all  his  future  ? 


The  1st  of  July  witnessed  a  disruption  of  the  Army  of  the 
Gulf,  a  re-organization  of  the  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  and  its 
transfer  from  this  to  another  department.  And  it  was  time  for 
some  move,  if  the  lives  of  the  men  were  held  of  any  value.  In 
addition  to  the  fatal  unhealthiness  of  the  place  and  season,  fre 
quent  drenching  showers  contributed  to  a  general  discomfort, 
with  swarms  of  flies  and  mosquitoes  thrown  in  as  garnishing. 
There  was  one  compensation,  but  it  came  just  too  late  with 
many  a  gallant  fellow.  The  hospital  was  on  board  the  large 
and  commodious  steamboat  "  Laurel  Hill,"  and  the  sick  were 
well  located  and  provided  for.  In  the  re-organization  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  the  Fourteenth  was  transferred  to  the  first 
brigade ;  and  thereafter,  until  the  close  of  the  war,  its  complete 
designation  ran,  Fourteenth  New-Hampshire  Vols.,  first  brigade, 
second  division,  Nineteenth  Army  Corps.  Major-Gen.  Emory 
continued  to  be  the  corps  commander  to  the  end,  with  Gen. 
Cuvier  Grover,  the  division  commander;  Gen.  H.  W.  Birge, 
formerly  colonel  of  Tenth  Conn.,  being  appointed  to  lead  the 
brigade.  The  remnant  of  the  Thirteenth  Corps  was  consti 
tuted  the  third  division  of  the  Nineteenth. 

July  1  was  a  day  of  extraordinary  commotion  at  Morganzia, 
although  the  members  of  the  Fourteenth  turned  in  at  night  all 
ignorant  of  the  impending  break-up.  Gen.  Emory  and  staff 
left  for  New  Orleans  that  evening,  on  the  steamer  "  Crescent." 
Shortly  after  midnight,  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  left  wing 


172  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

of  the  Fourteenth  was  roused,  and  ordered  to  strike  tents ;  the 
right  wing  having  already  moved  half  a  mile  up  the  river  and 
nearer  to  the  landing.  The  left  wing,  receiving  no  marching 
orders,  bunked  down  again  on  bare  poles,  and  slept  until  morn 
ing,  when  it  joined  the  right  wing,  remaining  there  in  a  most 
transient  state  of  bivouacking. 

After  dark  on  the  evening  of  the  3d,  the  regiment  went 
aboard  the  "  Gray  Eagle,"  one  of  the  most  magnificent  steamers 
then  plying  on  the  Mississippi.  It  was  known  that  the  troops 
were  destined  for  some  enterprise  or  service  outside  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Gulf,  and  speculation  was  as  busy  and  as  erratic  as 
soldiers'  guesses  were  apt  to  be. 

At  nine  A.M.  July  4,  the  "  Gray  Eagle  "  crowded  into  the 
swarm  of  vessels  at  the  wharves  of  New  Orleans.  She  made  a 
landing  at  the  foot  of  Canal  Street,  just  inside  a  United-States 
steam-frigate,  and  below  a  French  man-of-war.  The  regiment 
remained  aboard  the  steamer,  and  lay  under  the  guns  of  the 
man-of-war,  when  the  national  salute  was  fired  and  the  yards 
manned  at  noon.  Shortly  after  noon  the  boat  steamed  across 
the  river ;  and  the  Fourteenth  landed  a  little  above  the  village 
of  Algiers,  where  A  tents  were  pitched,  and  the  troops  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  were  rapidly  going  into  camp.  It  was  under 
stood  that  the  stay  would  be  but  temporary,  and  most  of  the 
hucksters  acquiesced  in  the  briefest  sort  of  brevity  in  the  tarry 
ing  of  the  Yanks  among  them.  The  boys  were  not  in  love  with 
Louisiana:  they  knew  they  were  soon  to  leave  it,  and  they 
exemplified  the  doctrine  that  the  world  —  Algiers  for  the  time 
—  owed  them  a  living.  It  is  not  possible  that  the  world  was 
much  in  debt  to  the  Nineteenth  Corps  when  its  last  straggler 
was  safely  stored  on  the  ocean  transport. 

The  first  and  second  divisions  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  were 
entirely  at  Algiers  on  the  night  of  the  4th,  and  were  simply 
awaiting  transportation.  Several  destinations  were  named  by 
the  rumor-mongers.  One  was  an  expedition  to  Brashear, 
another  to  Charleston,  and  the  Potomac  was  hinted  at;  but 
that  was  deemed  a  wild  guess :  while  Mobile  was  popularly 
considered  the  most  probable,  though  not  desired,  destination. 


ANOTHER    VOYAGE.  173 

Dress-parades  were  held,  and  some  drilling  done,  while  the 
suspense  continued.  Every  day  witnessed  the  departure  of 
transports  laden  with  troops  going  —  somewhere.  Every  com 
mander  departed  with  sealed  orders,  so  that  the  sharpest  Rebel 
spy  could  gain  no  inkling  of  the  threatened  blow.  The  Four 
teenth  was  destined  to  remain  in  that  camp  nearly  ten  days. 

July  11  orders  were  received  to  prepare  for  embarkation,  and 
all  possible  preparations  were  made  except  striking  tents.  On 
the  morning  of  the  llth  the  regiment  broke  camp,  and  marched 
through  the  town  to  the  wharf;  and  of  course  the  ship  was  not 
ready  for  its  human  freight.  The  men  lounged  upon  the  side 
walks  all  day.  Just  at  night  the  brilliant  discovery  was  made, 
that  the  vessel  could  accommodate  but  a  part  of  the  regiment. 
The  right  wing  and  Company  H  went  on  board  the  "Conti 
nental  ; "  while  Companies  F,  K,  E,  and  G  enjoyed  flag-stone 
berths  in  the  streets  of  Algiers  until  morning,  when  they  again 
went  into  camp,  awaiting  transportation.  For  the  next  five 
weeks  these  companies,  known  as  the  left  wing,  had  a  separate 
history. 

THE  RIGHT  WING. 

In  addition  to  the  right  wing  of  the  Fourteenth,  the  steam 
ship  "  Continental "  took  from  New  Orleans  the  Seventy-fifth 
N.  Y.,  which  made  the  number  of  troops  on  board  nine  hundred 
and  seventeen,  officers  and  men.  The  right  wing  was  com 
manded  by  Col.  Wilson.  These  troops,  like  all  other  portions 
of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  sailed  with  sealed  orders,  to  be  opened 
when  the  pilot  should  be  discharged.  The  brigade  headquarters 
were  on  board  the  steamer,  and  Gen.  Birge  and  staff.  The 
"Continental "  left  New  Orleans  at  midnight  of  July  13.  The 
next  morning,  having  reached  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  pilot 
was  dismissed ;  and  Gen.  Birge  opened  the  orders,  which  were, 
that  the  portion  of  the  corps  on  board  was  to  report  to  the 
commanding-officer  at  Fortress  Monroe.  The  "  T.  A.  Scott," 
which  had  sailed  five  hours  before  the  "  Continental,"  was 
passed  this  day.  The  trip  to  Fortress  Monroe,  occupying  six 
days,  was  as  pleasant  as  a  good  ship  and  gentlemanly  and  cour 
teous  officers  could  make  it. 


1T4  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Fortress  Monroe  was  reached  at  midnight  of  the  19th ;  and 
the  next  day  the  troops  were  ordered  to  City  Point,  to  report  to 
Gen.  Grant.  The  night  was  passed  at  Wilton's  Landing ;  and 
the  next  day  (July  21)  the  men  were  disembarked  at  Bermuda 
Hundred,  and  headquarters  established.  The  Twenty-sixth 
Mass,  was  already  there,  and  the  Ninth  Conn,  and  Twelfth  Me. 
arrived  during  the  day.  At  eight  P.M.  the  brigade  was  ordered 
to  the  Point,  and  at  ten  P.M.  of  the  same  evening  marched  on 
the  Petersburg  road,  and,  after  a  four-hours'  march,  bivouacked 
just  back  of  the  fortifications,  nine  miles  from  Petersburg. 

Just  at  evening  of  the  22d  the  battalion  was  ordered  to  "  fall 
in,"  —  the  men  were  taught  to  do  so  very  quickly  during  the 
six-days' stay  there,  —  but  was  hardly  in  time  to  receive  Gen. 
B.  F.  Butler  and  staff,  who  were  making  an  unceremonious  visit 
to  the  camps  in  that  vicinity.  A  Massachusetts  regiment  near 
us  were  enthusiastic  in  their  reception.  As  he  rode  past  with 
uncovered  head,  his  peculiar  eye  revealed  to  the  New-Hamp 
shire  boys,  who  had  seen  "  Harper's  Weekly,"  and  had  not  seen 
the  man  before,  the  name  of  him  who  won  so  much  notoriety 
during  the  war. 

During  the  stay  there  the  battalion  had  drills,  dress-parades, 
and  brigade  inspection. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  right  wing  started,  with  other 
troops,  on  a  reconiioissance,  crossing  the  James  River  on  pon 
toon  bridges  at  Deep  Bottom,  driving  the  enemy  back  along  the 
Newmarket  road,  west  of  Malvern  Hill,  about  two  miles.  The 
troops  were  on  historic  ground,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "  seven- 
days'  battle,"  and  twelve  miles  from  Richmond.  They  then  com 
menced  throwing  up  breastworks,  working  on  the  fortifications 
until  five  P.M.  on  the  29th,  when  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  the 
enemy  from  our  batteries  ;  but  they  did  not  respond.  During 
the  day  the  gunboats  in  the  river,  near  Dutch  Gap,  had  been 
shelling  the  Rebels  at  intervals  over  the  heads  of  the  infantry. 
The  Fourteenth  had  never  before  heard  those  large  shells ;  and 
the  boys  wanted  to  get  close  to  the  ground  when  the  "  cooking- 
stoves,"  as  they  called  them,  passed  over.  About  six  P.M.  the 
reconnoitring  force  began  to  evacuate  the  works.  The  wheels 


LEAVING  LOUISIANA.  175 

of  the  artillery  were  muffled,  no  lights  were  allowed,  and  every 
thing  was  done  with  the  least  sound  possible.  By  midnight  the 
troops  were  well  under  way ;  and  every  thing  had  been  so 
quietly  done,  and  the  skirmish-line  had  been  so  carefully  with 
drawn,  that  the  enemy  did  not  discover  their  opponent's  absence 
till  near  daylight,  when  they  followed,  and  came  up  just  as  the 
rear  of  our  line  was  crossing  the  pontoons.  The  Fourteenth  was 
the  last  to  cross ;  and  a  serious  loss  was  threatened  to  the  bat 
talion,  and  lively  times  generally,  before  the  army  got  over.  But 
the  movement  had  been  anticipated ;  and  our  batteries  were  in 
position  upon  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  gave  the  Johnnies 
a  warm  reception.  After  crossing,  the  force  halted  a  few  minutes 
for  rest  and  breakfast,  and  then  moved  back  to  the  camp  near 
Bermuda  Hundred.  The  brigade  reached  camp  at  noon;  but, 
during  its  halt  in  a  ravine  while  waiting  for  orders,  many  offi 
cers  and  men  were  sunstruck,  and  disabled  by  the  intense  heat. 


THE   LEFT   WING. 

The  left  wing  of  the  regiment  left  Algiers,  La.,  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  July  16,  on  the  screw-steamer  "  Gen 
eral  Lyon."  The  battalion  was  in  command  of  Major  Gardiner, 
and  was  accompanied  by  the  following  officers :  Surgeon  Perkins, 
Capt.  Tolinan,  and  Lieuts.  Cobleigh  and  Richardson  of  E ; 
Lieuts.  Fisk  and  Webster  of  K;  Lieut.  Hadley  of  F;  and  Lieut. 
Sturtevant  of  G.  A  portion  of  the  Third  Mass.  Cavalry  were 
on  board,  being  quartered  between  decks  in  berths :  the  left 
wing  was  on  the  upper  deck.  These  quarters  were  comforta 
ble  enough  during  the  daytime  and  in  fair  weather,  but  decid 
edly  disagreeable  through  the  three  days  of  rain  that  prevailed 
during  the  voyage.  At  night,  when  the  men  turned  in,  they 
occupied  every  available  foot  of  space  on  the  upper  deck ;  and 
the  curses  of  the  sailors,  as  they  endeavored  to  make  their  way 
among  them  during  the  night  in  the  working  of  the  ship,  were 
both  frequent  and  fervent. 

At  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  the  steamer 
crossed  the  bar,  and  swept  into  the  open  gulf.  On  the  21st  the 


176  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

vessel  left  the  gulf,  and  entered  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Water 
had  last  been  taken  on  board  in  the  James  River,  before  start 
ing  for  New  Orleans;  and  it  was  stored  in  barrels  of  every 
description,  chiefly,  however,  old  kerosene  barrels :  many  of 
these  proved  leaky;  and  the  sixth  day  out  all  hands  were  put 
on  a  daily  allowance  of  one  pint,  one-half  of  which  was  used  in 
cooking  food,  leaving  one  half-pint  for  drinking  purposes,  and 
most  of  this  so  tainted  with  the  taste  and  odor  of  kerosene  as  to 
be  nauseating  in  the  extreme.  There  was  some  complaining 
among  the  men  concerning  the  short  allowance  of  water,  and 
its  scarcity  and  poor  quality  certainly  added  much  to  the  dis 
comfort  of  the  voyage.  The  officers  found  some  fault  with  the 
food  furnished  them,  and  in  this  respect  were  not  as  well  off  as 
the  men. 

Hatteras  light  was  passed  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of 
the  26th;  and  on  the  27th,  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  the  "  Gen 
eral  Lyon  "  swept  past  Cape  Henry  into  Chesapeake  Bay.  At 
best  a  slow  boat,  this  voyage  was  lengthened  by  the  breaking  of 
two  blades  of  her  screw ;  and  it  was  not  until  five  o'clock  on  the 
evening  of  the  27th  that  Fortress  Monroe  was  reached.  Col. 
Sargent  and  Major  Gardiner  went  on  shore  to  report,  and  re 
ceived  orders  to  proceed  to  Washington.  At  ten  o'clock  the 
ship  weighed  anchor,  and  went  on  her  way  toward  Washington. 

The  Potomac  was  entered  on  the  morning  of  the  28th;  and, 
as  the  steamer  passed  up  the  river,  a  more  thirsty  lot  of  men 
than  crowded  her  deck  is  not  often  seen.  The  captain  of  the 
steamer  had  promised  to  let  the  boys  know  when  fresh  water 
should  be  reached ;  and,  when  the  ship's  pump  brought  up  the 
first  pailful  of  the  dirty  Potomac,  the  boys  gave  three  cheers, 
and  drank  and  drank,  until  the  captain  exclaimed,  "  Hold  on, 
boys,  for  Heaven's  sake,  or  we  shall  be  aground ! " 

The  boat  lay  at  anchor  off  Aquia  Creek  during  the  night, 
reaching  Sixth-street  Wharf,  Washington,  about  four  o'clock  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  having  been  twelve  days  on  the  voy 
age.  At  night  the  left  wing  marched  slowly  and  wearily  through 
Georgetown,  up  the  left  bank  of  the  Potomac,  to  Chain  Bridge, 
and  bivouacked  in  a  field  about  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 


YANKEE  PRUDENCE.  177 

July  30 ;  the  men  falling  asleep  immediately.     The  same  fore 
noon  the  battalion  went  into  camp  near  by. 

THE   YANKEE   IN   BLUE. 

When  our  hero  enlisted,  the  man  was  not  entirely  swallowed 
up  in  the  patriot.  Inherent  and  cultivated  characteristics  were 
not  in  the  least  subdued,  unless  they  infringed  upon  the  re 
lentless  curbs  of  military  discipline.  In  fact,  the  army  afforded 
a  peculiar  theatre  for  the  exercise  of  Yankee  cunning,  and  for 
an  exaggerated  play  of  traditional  characters.  We  at  present 
make  note  of  the  prudent  Yankee,  who  was,  like  Barkis,  a  "  lit 
tle  near."  And  we  are  face  to  face  with  an  interesting  and 
amusing  study.  The  volunteers  of  an  average  regiment  could 
be  divided  fairly  well  into  two  general  classes :  the  happy-go- 
lucky  fellows,  who  were  utterly  careless  of  money  matters, 
spent  their  pay  lavishly  and  quickly,  and  then  fell  into  line 
with  Mr.  Micawber.  These  spendthrifts  furnished  a  mine  that 
panned  out  richly,  and  was  well  and  cleverly  worked  to  the  end 
by  their  antipodal,  strictly  honest,  but  "  mighty  cute,"  comrades. 

This  latter  class  might  be  in  the  minority  when  the  roll  was 
called,  but  was  always  in  the  majority  when  greenbacks  were 
counted.  The  strictest  post-mortem  scrutiny  never  detected  a 
sutler's  check  in  one  of  their  pockets,  and  their  stomachs  never 
flirted  with  any  of  the  marvellous  vanities  of  said  sutler's  cui 
sine.  Whatever  Uncle  Sam  issued  in  the  way  of  rations  they 
took,  and  —  sold  all  they  could  spare;  though  the  pork,  candles, 
and  soap  were  generally  led  through  several  dexterous  dickers 
before  they  became  transmuted  into  the  coveted  cash.  From 
the  first  glimpse  of  bounty  or  pay  from  town,  State,  or  General 
Government,  these  prudent  warriors  had  an  eye  to  the  main 
chance ;  and  that  chance  was  well  handled.  Not  a  dollar  of  that 
bounty  was  wasted,  not  a  penny  of  monthly  pay  was  squan 
dered,  not  one  superfluous  pair  of  socks  ever  stole  into  the 
clothing  account.  But  this  virtue  was  not  wholly  economical : 
it  was  persistently  aggressive. 

The  trait  we  describe  was  not  merely  negative  in  its  mani- 


178  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

festations,  it  was  untiringly  positive.  The  keeping  of  money 
was  a  silent,  unobtrusive  matter,  of  course;  but  it  was  the  varied 
and  ingenious  getting  of  the  lucre  that  furnished  the  phenomena 
worthy  of  an  extended  and  graphic  delineation.  They  were  no 
Shylocks,  but  genial  and  almost  invariably  accommodating.  In 
one  respect  they  were  marvels.  No  matter  how  long  the  pay 
master  delayed  his  eagerly  expected  visit,  no  matter  if  nearly 
every  line-officer  in  the  regiment  was  bankrupt,  these  thrifty 
privates  always  had  one  more  legal  tender  stowed  safely  in 
waiting  for  a  remunerative  investment.  And  there  were  plenty 
of  borrowers  who  hadn't  handled  a  ten-cent  shin-plaster  of  their 
own  since  a  week  after  the  last  pay-day,  and  who  were  ready 
to  borrow  extensively,  paying  high  rates  of  interest.  It  was 
Darwin's  principle  transferred  to  the  sphere  of  the  soldier's 
economics,  —  uthe  survival  of  the  fittest,"  —  to  get  and  to  save 
money. 

But  Yankee  industry  sought  out  various  channels.  There 
were  less  aristocratic,  but  still  more  lucrative,  devices  for  elon 
gating  thirteen  dollars  a  month  into  a  respectable  income. 
Descending  through  the  various  gradations  of  dicker,  loan,  and 
labor,  —  all  with  the  greenback  as  the  goal  of  endeavor,  —  we 
encounter — next  to  the  man  who  is  everlastingly  swapping  some 
thing,  getting  boot  and  a  better  article  every  time  —  the  omnivo 
rous  buyer.  He  would  buy  any  thing,  and  always  pay  cash;  but 
he  was  never  known  to  pay  more  than  an  article  was  worth. 
As  pay-day  settled  away  into  the  past,  and  money  grew  scarce, 
this  dealer  increased  his  purchases  and  decreased  his  prices. 
Your  easy-go-lucky  fellow  on  pay-day  would  invest  twenty  dol 
lars  in  a  watch,  and  our  Yankee  has  from  two  to  half  a  dozen 
ready  always  to  sell.  One  month  after  the  paymaster  has  in 
flated  every  thing,  save  the  expenditures  of  our  avaricious  war 
riors,  the  watch  in  question  could  be  bought  for  fifteen  dollars. 
Two  weeks  more,  and  the  price  dropped  to  ten  dollars ;  and  in 
two  months  the  uneasy  owner  is  anxious  to  sell  for  five.  But 
Yankee  prudence  holds  off  until  the  desperate  fellow,  with  not 
a  dime  left  for  tobacco,  and  at  last  not  a  copper  remaining  to 
enable  him  to  indulge  in  his  uninterrupted  recreation  of  "  penny 


THAT  ARMY  OVERCOAT.  179 

ante,"  arrives  at  the  state  where  three  dollars  in  crisp  notes  is 
more  tempting  than  the  twenty-dollar  timekeeper;  and  for 
twenty-four  hours  he  is  flush :  then  he  sells  all  the  clothing  he 
can  draw ;  and  then  he  is  like  a  shark  ashore  until  the  paymas 
ter  comes  again,  and  makes  him  flourish  for  a  day.  Meanwhile 
every  thing  is  grist  that  comes  to  our  "near"  hero's  mill. 

"All's  fish  they  get 
That  cometh  to  net." 

In  camp,  on  guard,  picket,  march,  and  even  in  hospital,  he  is 
always  "  on  the  make."  He  sows  beside  all  waters,  but  is  very 
prudent  in  his  dispensation  of  seed,  and  compasses  with  success 
his  hundred-fold. 

For  more  than  a  decade  after  the  war  closed,  it  was  a  stand 
ing  mystery  throughout  the  North  how  so  much  good  army- 
clothing  was  worn  by  our  veterans.  And  even  though  twenty 
years  have  dealt  their  imperious  strokes  of  destruction  between 
the  then  and  the  now,  still  army  blankets  adorn  many  a  bed, 
and  the  familiar  overcoat  perambulates  hill  and  vale.  The 
Yankee  in  blue  can  tell  you  something  of  the  how  of  this  phe 
nomenon.  The  quartermaster-general  would  have  viewed  with 
astonishment,  had  he  been  acquainted  with  the  facts,  the  num 
berless  boxes  of  military  clothing  sent  home  in  the  earlier  part 
of  the  war.  A  large  proportion  of  these  consignments  were  the 
result  of  reckless  drawing,  and  more  reckless  selling,  by  spend 
thrift  soldiers,  and  shrewd  buying  and  prudent  shipping  by  our 
Yankee  in  blue.  This  sending  home  of  clothing  was  inter 
dicted,  and  ceased  mostly  during  the  last  years  of  service. 

If  there  were  comical,  foolish,  and  contemptible  sides  to  these 
barter,  loan,  and  gaming  transactions  of  army-life,  there  was  a 
sad,  even  pathetic,  aspect,  not  to  be  overlooked.  Wages,  needed 
at  home,  were  squandered  in  wanton  pleasure,  in  sutler's  gim- 
cracks,  or  were  frittered  away  in  puerile  gaming,  or  asinine 
dicker ;  the  thoughtless  soldier  buying  like  a  child  and  selling 
like  a  fool.  The  Yankee  in  blue  never  wasted  a  penny  in  play, 
nor  indulged  in  a  needless  or  hardly  a  profitable  pleasure.  He 
was  not  always  a  mean  character,  but  always  provident.  Often 


180  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

it  was  the  high  motive  of  lifting  a  mortgage  on  the  little  home, 
or  of  bursting,  for  his  family,  the  galling  bands  of  poverty.  If 
any  caricature  is  intended  here,  it  applies  only  to  those  who 
manifested  a  comical  smallness,  a  contemptible  grasp  and  penu- 
riousriess,  without  the  semblance  of  a  worthy  impulse  to  dignify 
a  studied  course  of  ignoble  saving. 

Some  of  our  Yankees  in  blue  were  busy  bees :  they  earned  a 
good  deal  beside  their  pay.  Many  of  them  did  not  hoard  their 
incomes :  they  earned  to  spend,  and  were  jolly  in  their  superior 
resources.  An  epidemic  of  bone  rings  and  kindred  ornaments 
broke  out  in  the  regiment;  and  every  moment  off  duty  was 
devoted  by  every  mechanical  Yankee  to  hunting,  sawing,  filing, 
polishing,  and  setting  bones.  This  is  but  a  sample  of  the  multi 
farious  methods  resorted  to  by  ingenious  "minions  of  Old  Abe," 
as  they  wore  away  the  tedium  of  rainy  seasons,  or  industriously 
filled  out  the  spare  hours  amid  active  duties.  There  were  regi 
mental  and  even  company  barbers,  some  of  whom  never  distin 
guished  between  a  razor  and  a  cross-cut  saw,  until  the  leisure 
of  army-life  and  the  emptiness  of  their  pockets  prompted  to  any 
reckless  venture  likely  to  prove  remunerative.  A  glib  tongue 
was  fifty  per  cent  of  a  barber's  capital.  If  he  was  a  good  story 
teller,  —  and  we  had  one  or  two  who  would  put  Eli  Perkins  to 
shame,  —  he  had  a  great  run  of  custom;  and  it  did  seem  as 
though  they  got  under  such  a  headway  of  amazing  narration 
that  nothing  short  of  a  generation  of  peace  would  suffice  to 
effectually  "  slow  them  up." 

There  were  cobblers  in  camp,  when  a  regiment  remained  in 
one  spot  long  enough ;  and  a  hint  of  the  whole  range  of  profit 
able  endeavors  is  given  when  it  is  remarked  that  even  the  tin 
type  artist  —  we  could  hardly  dignify  him  as  a  photographer  — 
plied  his  trade,  and  some  really  valuable  views  were  secured. 
The  cook  was  often  esteemed  a  sly  brother,  and  it  was  suspected 
that  he  prudently  turned  a  frequent  penny  from  at  least  the 
grease  which  he  sold.  But  make  a  tour  down  that  winding 
path  to  the  small  brook  whose  bubbling  waters  were  always 
kept  lively  by  several  hundred  mules  corralled  above  the  camp, 
and  who  made  it  a  matter  of  principle  to  churn  up  a  hogshead 


AN  HONEST  PENNY.  181 

of  mud  to  every  gallon  of  water  drank.  Away  down  on  the 
bushes  in  rear  of  the  line  of  ten  cook-houses,  there  you  find 
alders  and  brambles  that  bear  greenbacks.  He  laid  in  with  the 
cook,  got  his  soap  free,  and  he  washed.  The  man  who  was  next 
laziest  to  him  who  wouldn't  entertain  the  laundry  idea  at  all, 
was  he  who  wouldn't  wash  an  article  of  his  own  clothing 
throughout  his  entire  enlistment.  And  so  the  washerman 
throve.  It  was  remarkable,  the  rich  harvests  of  those  alders 
supplemented  by  a  modicum  of  soap  and  a  sprinkling  of  thin 
mud,  called  water.  Some  of  these  washers  had  consciences. 
They  all  got  a  good  deal  more  of  Uncle  Sam's  cash  from  the 
aforesaid  bushes  than  they  ever  did  out  of  the  paymaster's 
trunk. 

Then,  there  were  carpenters  who  pocketed  an  occasional 
greenback  by  repairing,  enlarging,  or  furnishing  the  officers' 
quarters.  But,  in  whatever  way  it  was  wrought,  the  results  of 
those  steady  savings  are  prominent  to-day.  Many  a  farm  was 
freed  from  a  discouraging  encumbrance,  many  a  poor  man  laid 
the  foundation  of  what  is  now  a  fortune,  thousands  of  homes 
found  pleasanter  furnishing,  and  in  every  quarter  bright  and 
inspiring  vistas  of  life  were  opened  up  by  the  frugality  and 
large  aggregate  results  of  the  little  savings  of  our  Yankee  in 
blue. 


182  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


IV. 

THE  SHENANDOAH. 

THE  Union  soldier  who  served  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
entered  into  the  choicest  romances  of  the  Great  Rebellion.  If 
military  duty  in  the  valley  involved  the  most  arduous  of  cam 
paigning,  if  the  fortunes  of  war  hurled  both  contending  armies 
into  swift  and  altogether  unexpected  fluctuations  of  victory 
and  defeat,  still  the  singular  excitements,  the  brilliant  cavalry 
dashes,  the  surprises,  splendid  strategies  and  bewildering  ma 
noeuvres,  the  ambuscades  of  bushwhackers  and  the  agile  pranks 
of  Moseby,  the  wonderful  ability  displayed  in  that  somewhat 
narrow  amphitheatre  of  war,  only  equalled  by  the  more  won 
derful  imbecility  of  several  officers,  all  conspired  to  wreathe 
about  the  struggles  of  that  sanguinary  section  more  of  romance 
and  of  mystery  than  appertained  to  any  equal  area  of  fighting 
territory. 

There  were  no  such  ponderous  movements  and  thunder 
strokes  of  battle,  nor  heroic  stubbornness  of  endurance,  as 
characterized  the  campaigning  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac; 
but  the  fighting  was  quite  as  deadly,  and  the  demands  upon  the 
troops  no  less  severe.  The  best  troops  of  the  South,  with  some 
of  her  most  heroic  generals,  were  hurled  into  the  valley:  it 
was  a  recognized  centre  of  strategy,  and  was  employed  by  both 
armies  as  the  conspicuous  manoeuvring  ground  of  the  civil  war. 
In  each  year  of  the  struggle,  save  the  final  one,  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  was  of  vital  consequence  as  an  element  in  the  general 
campaign.  It  was  the  safest,  easiest  gateway  to  the  North  for 
the  Rebel  armies,  and  was  the  granary  of  the  Rebellion,  pre 
vious  to  the  fall  of  1864. 


REBELLION  IN   THE    VALLEY.  183 

The  Fourteenth  has  some  reason  to  understand  why  the 
Johnnies'  wheat- wagons  did  not  roll  toward  Richmond  after 
that  time.  The  Union  cause  had  more  traitorous,  bungling,  and 
imbecile  commanders  in  the  Valley  than  in  any  other  portion 
of  the  South ;  while  one  of  the  national  leaders  won  a  series  of 
triumphs  as  brilliant  as  can  be  ascribed  to  any  captain  of  our 
age.  One  town,  Winchester,  was  the  scene  of  eleven  different 
battles;  and  there  are  few  acres  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and 
North-Mountain  ranges  where  the  plough  will  not  ta-day  turn  up 
some  relic  of  those  desperate  encounters. 

The  first  threatening  feint,  the  first  aggressive  move,  of  the 
Rebels  in  Virginia  was  made  in  the  Valley.  So  the  first  impor 
tant  advance  of  Union  troops  was  in  the  same  territory  where 
Gen.  Robert  Patterson  moved  out  from  Chambersburg  on  the 
7th  of  June,  1861,  with  twenty  thousand  militia.  Earlier  than 
this,  in  May,  the  Rebel  general,  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  held 
Harper's  Ferry  and  Maryland  Heights.  He  also  threatened  a 
crossing  of  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport.  June  14  he  evacuated 
Harper's  Ferry,  burning  the  superb  railroad  bridge  and  the 
government  armory,  carrying  away  all  the  arms  and  machinery. 
He  further  dismantled  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal,  and  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  then  retreated  to  Winchester. 
July  2  Patterson  had  a  tilt  with  Stonewall  Jackson  at  Falling 
Waters,  on  the  Potomac ;  and  on  the  15th  of  the  same  month 
the  former  advanced  to  Bunker  Hill,  nine  miles  from  Winches 
ter.  He  was  expected  and  ordered  to  hold  Johnston  in  the 
valley.  He  had  been  re-enforced,  and  commanded  twenty-two 
thousand  men,  while  Johnston  had  but  twenty  thousand.  In 
stead  of  throwing  his  army  between  Johnston  and  the  fords  of 
the  Shenandoah,  thus  intercepting  any  possible  move  of  the 
Rebels  toward  Manassas,  he  turned  to  the  left,  and  on  the  17th 
marched  to  Chaiiestown;  twelve  miles  from  Winchester,  leaving 
Johnston  at  full  liberty.  This  act  of  folly,  if  not  of  treason, 
decided  Bull  Run  for  the  Rebels. 

The  judgment  that  Patterson  was  a  traitor  has  much  to  war 
rant  it.  After  Bull  Run  he  retreated  to  Harper's  Ferry,  where, 
July  25,  he  was  relieved  by  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks. 


184  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

On  the  16th  of  October  Gen.  Geary,  under  orders  from 
Banks,  captured  Bolivar  Heights ;  and  that  event  ended  cam 
paigning  in  the  valley  for  the  year  1861.  Early  in  1862  Banks 
had  possession  of  Bolivar  and  London  Heights,  Leesburg, 
Charlestown,  and  Martinsburg.  He  pushed  the  Rebels  back  to 
Winchester,  Jackson  evacuating  that  place  without  a  struggle. 
In  March  Gen.  McClellan  ordered  Banks  to  Manassas  with  his 
entire  army,  save  two  regiments  of  cavalry,  with  which  to  garri 
son  Winchester. 

March  23  the  Rebel  cavalry,  under  Ashby,  attacked  Gen. 
Shields  at  Winchester;  the  latter  being  wounded.  Stonewall 
Jackson  brought  up  his  infantry ;  and  at  Kernstown,  after  a  smart 
fight,  the  Rebels  retreated,  followed  by  Banks,  to  Harrisonburg. 
The  Union  force  was  about  twelve  thousand.  Jn  May  Gen. 
Milroy  appears  on  the  scene  as  a  Union  commander.  He  went 
so  far  up  the  Valley  as  to  threaten  Staunton,  but  retreated 
before  a  re-enforced  enemy.  Down  the  Valley  rattled  a  Rebel 
force,  twenty  thousand  strong,  elated  over  the  repulse  of  Milroy, 
the  defeat  of  Col.  Kenly  at  Front  Royal,  and  the  rout  of  minor 
commanders. 

The  Union  end  of  the  see-saw  was  down  just  then  ;  and  Jack 
son  pitched  into  Banks  at  Winchester,  who  had  seven  thousand 
men  available  to  stem  the  tide.  Of  course  he  was  driven  pell- 
mell  out  of  the  Valley.  The  Rebels  were,  with  good  reason, 
highly  elated  over  this  brilliant  series  of  advantages.  Our 
troops  retreated  to  Williamsport,  via  Martinsburg ;  and  Jackson 
menaced  Harper's  Ferry,  occupying  Halltown.  Then,  May  10, 
began  one  of  the  most  brilliant  movements  of  the  war,  —  a  retreat 
by  Jackson,  conducted  in  so  masterly  a  manner  that  he  won  for 
himself  a  place  hardly  second  to  any  in  the  Southern  army  dur 
ing  the  war.  He  was  in  a  perilous  position,  so  far  down  the 
Valley;  for-  Shields,  with  twenty  thousand  men,  was  ordered 
back  from  Fredericksburg,  through  Manassas  Gap,  to  intercept 
him  before  he  could  escape  up  the  Valley. 

Gen.  Fremont,  who  was  west  of  the  main  range  of  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  was  ordered  to  march  east  into  the  valley,  and  cut  off 
the  Rebel  force.  Both  Fremont  and  Shields  reached  Strasburg 


CAMPAIGN  OF  1862.  185 

just  three  hours  after  Jackson  had  left  the  town,  escaping  south 
ward.  Shields  pursued  east  of  the  mountains,  hoping  to  head 
him  off;  while  Fremont  chased  him  up  the  Valley.  Jackson  was 
so  hard  pressed  that  he  had  to  fight  almost  constantly,  yet  he 
kept  his  army  intact.  He  fought  Fremont  at  Cross  Keys,  and 
Shields  at  Port  Republic,  both  sides  contending  desperately ; 
but  Jackson  got  away  with  most  of  his  army,  and  soon  went  to 
Richmond.  Ashby,  the  best  outpost  cavalry  leader  in  either 
army,  was  killed  in  one  of  these  encounters.  Fremont  and 
Shields  both  returned  under  orders.  The  campaign  of  1862  was, 
however,  not  over  in  the  Valley. 

Early  in  September,  before  the  battle  of  Antietam,  Lee  had 
his  whole  army  in  Maryland,  arid  threatened  Harper's  Ferry. 
Jackson  was  t  appointed  to  this  task.  McClellan  might  have 
saved  Harper's  Ferry,  but  was  not  quick  enough.  Jackson 
crossed  the  Potomac  into  Virginia  at  Williamsport,  and  struck 
at  Miles  with  twelve  thousand  men,  who  defended  Harper's 
Ferry  from  Bolivar  Heights.  September  15  Gen.  Miles,  having, 
by  the  most  utter  incapacity  or  arrant  treason,  allowed  himself 
to  be  surrounded,  raised  the  white  flag,  and  surrendered  his 
whole  force ;  the  only  redeeming  feature  of  the  operation  being 
his  own  mortal  wound,  inflicted  after  he  had  raised  his  disgrace 
ful  flag. 

After  Antietam,  Lee,  with  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
occupied  the  Valley  until  well  into  November;  the  Union  forces 
having  recaptured  Harper's  Ferry  September  22,  the  very  day 
on  which  most  of  the  Fourteenth  were  being  mustered  into  the 
United-States  service. 

Thus  ended,  in  shame  and  disaster,  the  second  year's  cam 
paign  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  It  has  been  previously 
stated  that  Lee's  army  entered  the  Valley  in  June,  1863,  on  its 
way  to  invade  the  North.  Gen.  R.  H.  Milroy  was  in  command 
of  the  Union  forces  in  the  valley,  holding  Winchester  under 
Gen.  Schenck  as  department  commander.  He  had  ten  thousand 
men.  He  remained  at  Winchester  so  long  that  the  Rebels  were 
upon  him  in  overwhelming  force  before  he  had  taken  any  effect 
ive  measures  for  securing  a  retreat.  June  15  he  decided  to  run, 


186  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

but  it  was  too  late.  He  was  completely  out-generalled,  and  cut 
off  from  both  Martinsburg  and  Harper's  Ferry.  His  army  was 
annihilated,  thousands  of  prisoners  taken  ;  the  remainder  escap 
ing  into  Maryland,  and  some  of  them  not  stopping  in  their  re 
treat  until  they  got  away  into  Pennsylvania.  The  enemy  did 
not  at  this  time  occupy  Harper's  Ferry. 

After  Gettysburg,  Lee's  army  retreated  up  the  Valley,  Meade 
failing  in  his  purpose  of  fighting  a  battle  in  Manassas  Gap;  and 
Lee  again  struck  the  Rappahannock  through  a  more  southerly 
pass. 

The  campaigning  of  1864  in  the  Valley  began  May  1.  Ulysses 
S.  Grant  was  made  lieutenant-general  of  the  army  March  2. 
He  soon  after  took  personal  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac,  and  soon  re-organized  it  with  a  fighting  strength  of  over 
a  hundred  thousand.  May  4  that  army  crossed  the  Rapidan, 
and  entered  upon  its  renowned  Wilderness  campaign.  And  the 
Shenandoah  Valley  was  reckoned  an  important  factor  in  the 
new  strategy. 

Grant  laid  out  a  comprehensive  plan ;  and  in  that  plan  was  a 
move  of  Sigel  up  the  Valley,  and  of  Crook  up  the  Kanawha, 
with  the  intent  of  striking  the  Rebels  at  Staunton  and  Lynch- 
burg.  Sigel  moved  up  the  Valley  on  the  1st,  with  ten  thou 
sand  men  and,  on  the  15th  met  Breckinridge  at  Newmarket,  a 
point  which  the  Fourteenth  will  recall  as  the  scene  of  artillery 
practice  on  the  Johnnies  the  afternoon  after  Fisher's  Hill. 

It  was  the  old  story.  Our  men  were  badly  handled;  and 
Breckinridge,  with  an  equal  force,  sent  Sigel  flying  down  the 
Valley,  as  every  Union  commander  had  previously  gone.  Sigel 
retired  to  Cedar  Creek,  and  the  Rebels  were  too  much  occupied 
with  Crook  to  follow. 

Sigel  was  at  once  superseded  by  Hunter,  who  was  strength 
ened.  He  won  a  clean  victory  at  Piedmont,  near  Staunton, 
June  8.  His  force  was  then  increased  to  twenty  thousand,  the 
largest  Valley  army  since  1861.  But  he  attempted  too  much. 
He  was  a  brave  man,  but  not  great  enough  for  the  peculiar 
strategy  of  the  Shenandoah.  He  besieged  Lynchburg  the  18th. 
Lee  sent  an  overwhelming  force  to  repel  him ;  and,  with  stores 


THE    VALLEY  IN  1863.  187 

run  low  and  a  hungry  army,  he  was  in  a  pitiable  plight.  He 
saved  his  army,  but  in  doing  so  retreated  westward  into  West 
Virginia,  leaving  the  Valley  entirely  exposed. 

And  now  steps  into  the  arena  the  knight  of  apple-jack  and 
the  hero  of  Fisher's  Hill,  —  Jubal  Early,  who  was  an  able  offi 
cer —  when  sober.  He  made  a  characteristic  Rebel  dash  down 
the  Valley,  covering  his  infantry  with  clouds  of  cavalry,  like 
the  Pandours  in  the  Silesian  campaigns  against  Frederick 
the  Great.  He  so  skilfully  masked  his  movements  and  force, 
that  the  whole  North  became  frightened ;  although  he  had  no 
more  than  twenty  thousand  infantry. 

July  3  Early  was  on  the  Potomac,  creating  a  general  panic. 
Sigel  fled  to  Maryland  Heights.  Early  raided  away  up  to  the 
Pennsylvania  line.  A  Union  force  was  gathered  to  repel  the 
invasion.  July  9  the  Rebels  were  at  Frederick,  and  the  Union 
army  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Monocacy  to  cover  Washington. 
It  was  a  gallant  fight;  but  Gen.  Wallace  was  over-matched, 
and  fell  back.  Early  now,  July  12,  menaced  both  Washington 
and  Baltimore;  and  this  explains  the  sudden  transfer  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  to  Washington  and  the  Shenandoah.  The 
Nineteenth  Corps  had  mostly  reached  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
Grant  ordered  that  and  the  Sixth  at  once  to  Washington. 

Early  retreated  across  the  Potomac  at  Edward's  Ferry,  with 
six  thousand  fresh  horses  and  five  thousand  cattle.  Wright 
followed  as  far  as  Leesburg.  Grant  was  informed  that  Early 
was  retreating  to  Richmond,  and  he  determined  to  strike  at 
Richmond  from  Petersburg  before  Early  could  reach  there  with 
his  re-enforcements.  In  furtherance  of  this  plan,  the  Sixth  and 
Nineteenth  Corps  were  ordered  back  to  the  Army  of  the  Poto 
mac. 

This  explains  the  rapid  moves  of  the  right  wing  during  its 
brief  service  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  But  Grant  had  been 
misinformed :  Early  was  not  going  southward,  but  turned,  and 
defeated  Crook  at  Winchester,  July  24,  driving  him  routed  back 
to  Martinsburg.  Averill  had  previously,  on  the  20th,  fought  a 
battle  at  Winchester,  finally  ousting  the  Rebels. 

The  defeat  of  Crook  explains  the  sudden  return  of  the  Sixth 


188  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  Nineteenth  Corps  to  Maryland  and  the  Valley ;  it  explains 
the  sudden  embarkation  of  the  right  wing  from  Bermuda 
Hundred ;  it  explains  why  the  left  wing,  when  it  arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  from  Louisiana,  was  ordered  directly  to  Wash 
ington. 

We  have  briefly  recounted  the  long  and  wretched  series  of 
failures,  blunders,  and  treasons  enacted  in  the  Shenandoah. 
Space  has  been  given  to  this  resum£,  because  it  is  absolutely 
essential  to  a  correct  appreciation  of  Sheridan's  masterly  cam 
paign  and  his  magnificent  successes.  August  2  Grant  sent 
Sheridan  to  Washington  to  straighten  the  distractions  on  the 
Potomac  and  in  the  Valley.  A  new,  unprecedented,  and  heroic 
era  was  dawning  upon  that  region. 

The  first  gleam  of  the  coming  day,  whose  golden  hours  were 
to  mark  no  disaster,  was  already  shooting  athwart  the  Blue 
Ridge,  gilding  the  signal  heights  of  Massanutten ;  and,  arching 
that  fatal  valley,  as  a  bow  of  promise,  it  rested  on  the  North- 
Mountain  ranges,  the  western  wall  of  the  Shenandoah. 

So  much  was  Gen.  Grant  concerned  for  the  success  of  the 
new  regime,  that  on  the  4th  of  August  he  visited  Harper's 
Ferry.  The  order,  appointing  Sheridan  commander  of  the  new 
Middle  Department,  appeared  on  the  7th ;  and  he  at  once  as 
sumed  direction  of  affairs. 

Sheridan's  entire  force  amounted  to  nearly  thirty  thousand, 
while  Early  had  twenty  thousand.  The  disparity  of  strength 
between  the  two  armies  was  more  apparent  than  real ;  for  the 
Rebels  were  at  home,  many  of  them  fighting  on  their  own 
farms ;  they  were  among  friends ;  were  familiar  with  every 
cross-road  ;  they  were  effectively  abetted  by  the  Rebel  inhabit 
ants,  and  by  bodies  of  men  who  were  lively  bushwhackers  at 
night  and  demure  non-combatants  by  day. 

Early,  in  his  advantages,  was  a  full  match  for  Sheridan. 
The  Rebels  were  brave  men  and  hard  fighters ;  but  Early  had 
to  learn  that  no  such  commander  as  Phil  Sheridan  had  ever  led 
a  Union  host  up  that  rarest  valley  of  the  sunny  South.  What 
his  men  were,  their  record  tells. 

The  following  pages  will  show  that  a  decisive,  onward  move- 


LOOKOUT    NEAR    HARPER'S    FERRY. 


SHERIDAN'S   CAMPAIGN.  189 

ment  was  not  at  once  pressed  by  Sheridan.  That  was  not  his 
fault.  So  bitter  had  been  the  previous  experience,  that  Grant 
was  cautious,  —  wisely  so,  —  and  waited  for  the  ripe  occasion. 
His  command  then  —  September  16 — was  in  the  words,  "  Go 
in ! "  and  every  Fourteenth  boy  knows  how  Sheridan  went  in 
and  how  the  Johnnies  went  out. 


THE  LEFT  WING. 

July  30  the  left  wing  of  the  Fourteenth,  camped  near  Chain 
Bridge,  received  orders  to  move,  and  just  before  dark  started 
for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad  Station  in  Washington. 
Transportation  not  being  ready,  the  battalion  slept  on  the 
pavement. 

At  daybreak  next  morning  the  cars  were  ready ;  and  at  eight 
o'clock  the  train  left  for  Monocacy  Junction,  the  wagon-train 
proceeding  via  Kockville  on  the  Frederick  Pike.  Lieut.  Blan- 
chard  left  the  battalion,  sick.  That  afternoon  Monocacy  was 
reached ;  and  shelter-tents  were  pitched  in  an  open  field  near 
the  river,  in  one  of  the  loveliest  bits  of  riparian  scenery  to  be 
found  in  the  South. 

August  1  other  detachments  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  arrived, 
and,  until  the  whole  corps  could  be  brought  together,  were 
temporarily  organized  under  acting  Brigadier-Gen.  Macaulay. 
At  that  time  apples  and  peaches  were  abundant,  the  inhabitants 
generously  supplying  the  troops  with  large  quantities. 

At  five  P.M.  of  the  4th,  the  left  wing  on  two  trains  started  for 
Harper's  Ferry.  The  cars  were  crowded  within  and  on  top. 
The  train  was  run  at  a  fearful  speed,  provoking  the  remark 
that  the  boys  were  as  safe  on  the  "  Daniel  Webster,"  off  Cape 
Hatteras  in  a  gale,  as  swaying  along  in  such  a  rickety  train  at 
forty-five  miles  an  hour.  Some  of  the  men  steadied  themselves 
by  thrusting  their  bayonets  through  the  roofs  of  the  cars.  At 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Harper's  Ferry  was  reached ;  the 
train  not  being  able  to  run  over  the  bridge,  as  the  Rebels  had 
again  destroyed  it.  The  battalion  marched  up  on  the  Mary 
land  side  of  the  Potomac,  and  crossed  just  above  the  govern 
ment  buildings  on  a  pontoon  bridge. 


190  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

The  Fourteenth  had  begun  its  campaign  in  the  Valley. 
Marching  through  the  town,  the  battalion  bivouacked  on  the 
heights  near  the  cemetery,  just  within  a  line  of  breastworks. 
In  the  confusion  and  darkness  Company  F,  Lieut.  Hadley  com 
manding,  became  separated  from  the  other  three,  and  remained 
with  an  Iowa  regiment. 

The  next  morning,  August  5,  the  last  company  found  its 
place;  and  the  battalion  awaited  orders  all  day,  expecting  to 
move  every  moment.  At  two  o'clock  A.M.  on  the  6th,  the 
troops  were  roused ;  and  at  four  o'clock,  in  a  heavy  rain,  the 
army  advanced  to  Halltown,  four  miles,  and  occupied  a  strong 
position  on  a  high  ridge  parallel  with  the  pike,  —  the  same  occu 
pied  by  the  whole  of  the  Fourteenth  two  weeks  later.  There 
the  army  was  greatly  augmented ;  other  portions  of  the  Sixth, 
Eighth,  and  Nineteenth  Corps  arriving,  with  a  considerable 
force  of  cavalry. 

At  this  point  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  glance  at  the  Nineteenth 
Army  Corps,  and  notice  its  record,  —  a  record  which  the  Four 
teenth  was  thenceforth  to  assist  in  making  still  more  resplen 
dent.  The  corps  was  organized  in  the  South-west,  and  had 
served  there  in  arduous  and  hard-fought  campaigns.  Comment 
ing  upon  the  Red-river  campaign,  the  following  is  the  testi 
mony  of  one  of  the  greatest  historians  of  the  war,  concerning 
one  of  the  divisions  of  this  corps :  "  Emory's  division  had  saved 
our  army,  and  probably  our  fleet  also."  "The  Chicago  Tribune  " 
contained  the  following :  "  In  our  retreat,  as  we  emerged  into  a 
more  open  piece  of  woods,  we  came  upon  Emory's  division  of 
the  Nineteenth  Corps,  forming,  in  magnificent  order,  in  line  of 
battle  across  the  road.  Each  regiment  of  this  fine  division 
quietly  awaited  the  approach  of  the  Rebels.  On  they  came, 
screaming,  and  firing  in  good  order  and  with  closed  ranks.  All 
at  once,  from  that  firm  line  of  gallant  soldiers,  standing  so 
bravely  between  us  and  our  exultant  pursuers,  there  came  forth 
a  course  of  reverberating  thunder  that  rolled  from  flank  to 
flank  in  one  continuous  roll,  sweeping  the  Rebel  ranks  away  in 
dismay.  In  vain  the  Rebels  strove  to  rally  from  this  terrible 
fire.  They  fell  back  most  terribly  punished." 


CHASING  EARLY. 


191 


The  Nineteenth  Corps  was  fully  up  to  the  fighting  and  dis 
ciplinary  level  of  the  splendid  Sixth  Corps,  inured  to  the  tre 
mendous  campaigning  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Such 
was  the  fighting  material  which  "  Little  Phil "  wielded  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley.  The  cavalry  which  joined  the  army  at 
Halltown  were  Torbert's  and  Wilson's  divisions  from  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  The  stop  at  Halltown  was  of  great  advantage 
to  the  army ;  as  the  men  were  fed  up,  washed  up,  cheered  up, 
and  generally  inspirited  to  an  excellent  fighting  trim.  During 
the  night  of  the  9th  a  full  supply  of  clothing  was  issued  to  the 
army. 

The  left  wing  was  temporarily  brigaded  under  Col.  Moli- 
neaux. 

At  five  A.M.  August  10,  the  army  .advanced.  That  first  day 
was  a  reminder  of  what  might  be  expected  under  a  general  who 
"  pushed  things."  The  weather  was  so  intensely  hot,  and  the 
marching  was  so  rapid,  that  the  men  dropped  out  exhausted 
by  scores.  The  Nineteenth-Corps  column  marched  directly 
through  Charlestown.  A  description  of  this  event  will  be  found 
under  the  titles  "Music  in  the  Army"  and  "After  Twenty 
Years."  The  army  camped  that  night  near  Berry ville,  having 
marched  sixteen  miles.  The  enemy  was  reported  near  at  hand. 

August  11  reveille  sounded  at  four  A.M.,  and  a  little  after  five 
the  army  was  in  motion.  Marched  to  Berryville,  formed  line  of 
battle,  threw  out  skirmishers;  and  in  this  uncomfortable  manner 
of  marching  traversed  three  miles  of  woods,  underbrush,  and 
broken  country;  then  moved  by  the  right  flank  in  battalion 
columns  so  as  at  a  moment's  notice  to  swing  into  line  of  battle. 
The  enemy  never  would  catch  Sheridan  napping.  Another  day 
of  intense  heat.  The  writer  marched  until  he  reeled  into  the 
ditch,  and  lay  there  for  an  hour  unable  to  move.  There  was 
always  a  punishment  for  all  falling  out  of  line,  —  the  army 
moved  right  on,  and  the  regiment  must  be  overtaken  before 
supper  or  bed  could  be  enjoyed.  On  several  occasions  the  last 
of  the  stragglers  came  in  at  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock  at  night. 
Orders  were  given  to  rest  the  men  ten  minutes  out  of  each  hour, 
and  this  merciful  precaution  reduced  the  number  of  stragglers. 


192  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

A  provost-guard  followed  in  rear  of  the  army,  and  drove  on  all 
who  fell  out,  putting  the  sick  into  ambulances.  There  was 
something  suspicious  about  many  of  the  cases  of  sickness.  At 
any  rate,  the  ambulances  were  pretty  well  loaded.  The  infantry 
marched  on  either  side  of  the  pike,  leaving  that  for  the  artillery 
and  wagon-trains.  Fourteen  miles  were  covered  that  day. 

On  the  12th  the  chase  of  Early  was  pressed  with  still  greater 
vigor;  and  the  sufferings  of  the  men  exceeded  previous  experi 
ence,  yet  they  kept  in  good  spirits.  The  division  containing 
the  left  wing  was  in  the  advance,  pressing  the  enemy. 

From  Berry ville  the  army  did  not  turn  west,  toward  Win 
chester,  as  it  did  more  than  a  month  later,  but  moved  straight 
on  south  toward  Cedar  Creek  and  Strasburg,  leaving  Winches 
ter  away  to  the  right.  It  was  not  Gen.  Sheridan's  intention  to 
move  any  farther  south  than  Berryville  before  encountering 
the  enemy.  His  plan  was,  to  follow  the  Winchester  pike  west 
from  Berryville,  and  force  a  battle  at  Winchester.  But  the  wily 
Rebel  would  not  stand ;  Merritt's  cavalry,  fighting  up  to  Kerns- 
town,  discovering  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  in  full  retreat 
up  the  Valley.  Hence  the  advance  to  Cedar  Creek  direct  from 
Berryville. 

On  the  night  of  the  12th  the  left  wing  camped  very  nearly 
where  it  did  later,  in  October,  on  the  Cedar-Creek  battle-field. 
Indeed,  the  whole  army  occupied  nearly  the  identical  position  ; 
Crook  being  on  the  left  of  the  pike,  the  Nineteenth  Corps  to 
the  right,  and  the  Sixth  Corps  still  farther  to  the  right,  across 
Meadow  Run.  During  the  previous  days  there  had  been  more 
or  less  fighting,  and  the  infantry  frequently  kept  step  to  distant 
cannonading ;  but  at  Cedar  Creek  the  army  came  to  a  forced  stop. 
Across  the  creek  was  the  enemy,  and  the  cavalry  could  not  dis 
lodge  them.  Picket-firing  grew  sharp  and  extended,  and  there 
were  signs  of  a  general  engagement.  At  nine  o'clock  that  night 
the  entire  left  wing  was  ordered  on  picket,  being  posted  across 
Meadow  Run,  and  down  to  the  banks  of  Cedar  Creek.  On  the 
evening  of  the  18th,  the  battalion  was  relieved,  and  returned  to 
its  camp.  The  day  had  been  quiet.  On  the  mornings  of  the 
14th  and  15th  the  army  was  roused,  and  stood  at  arms  from 


A   DANGEROUS   TRAP.  193 

four  o'clock  to  six,  in  order  to  prevent  an  anticipated  sur 
prise. 

A  portion  of  the  army,  on  the  15th,  made  a  reconnoissance 
toward  Fisher's  Hill,  with  some  smart  fighting.  In  that  portion 
of  the  army  to  the  rear  of  us  —  near  Middle  town  — a  Rebel  spy 
was  hung. 

Grover's  second  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  including 
our  own  right  wing,  had  not  yet  arrived  from  Washington;  and 
Sheridan's  strength  at  this  time  was  but  eighteen  thousand 
infantry  and  thirty-five  hundred  cavalry.  Early  was  camped  on 
Fisher's  Hill,  his  right  on  the  Shenandoah,  his  left  on  the  Little 
North  Mountain.  The  Massanutten  Range  begins  at  Cedar 
Creek,  and  divides  the  Shenandoah  into  two  valleys ;  the  east 
erly  one  being  the  Luray,  famous  in  all  these  campaigns,  and 
now  famous  for  its  caverns. 

Here  was  a  dangerous  trap  for  Sheridan  ;  for,  if  he  pursued 
Early  up  the  Valley  farther,  another  Rebel  force,  coming  down 
the  Luray  Valley  over  the  Front-Royal  pike,  would  get  in  his 
rear,  and  cut  him  off,  leaving  him  between  two  armies.  This  is 
prefisely  what  the  Rebels  attempted  with  the  Union  army 
north  of  the  creek;  and  it  was  information  of  this,  and  orders 
from  Gen.  Grant  to  act  only  on  the  defensive  until  re-enforced, 
that  caused  such  a  rapid  and  mysterious  retreat  down  the  Val 
ley  to  Halltown.  Some  of  the  men  growled  at  being  rushed 
up  the  Valley  only  to  be  rushed  down  again ;  but  they  had  not 
got  acquainted  with  Sheridan,  nor  were  they  great  strategists. 
It  was  not  the  only  occasion,  when,  if  they  had  known  more, 
they  would  have  said  less.  On  the  13th  our  cavalry  recon 
noitred  beyond  Cedar  Creek  to  Strasburg.  On  the  morning 
of  the  14th,  Sheridan  sent  a  brigade  of  cavalry  to  Front  Royal  to 
settle  the  rumors  of  a  Rebel  re-enforcement  through  the  Luray 
Valley.  At  the  same  time  the  Sixth  Corps  crossed  Cedar  Creek, 
and  occupied  the  heights  above  Strasburg. 

That  very  day  Grant,  who  was  watching  the  valley  carefully, 
got  a  despatch  through  by  courier  to  Sheridan,  informing  him 
that  two  divisions  of  infantry,  some  cavalry,  and  twenty  pieces 
of  artillery,  had  left  Richmond  to  re-enforce  Early.  Sheridan 


194  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

thus  gives  his  conclusions :  "  I  at  once  looked  over  the  map  of 
the  valley  for  a  defensive  line ;  that  is,  where  a  smaller  number 
of  troops  could  hold  a  greater  number :  and  I  could  see  but  one 
such ;  I  refer  to  that  at  Halltown,  in  front  of  Harper's  Ferry. 
Subsequent  experience  has  convinced  me  that  no  other  really 
defensive  line  exists  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  I  therefore 
determined  to  move  back  to  Halltown,  carry  out  my  instruc 
tions  to  destroy  forage  and  subsistence,  and  increase  my  strength 
by  Grover's  division  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  and  Wilson's  divis 
ion  of  cavalry,  both  of  which  were  marching  to  join  me  via 
Snicker's  Gap." 

The  enemy  enjoyed  one  advantage  which  caused  the  Union 
commander  a  good  deal  of  annoyance.  On  the  north  summit 
of  Massanutten,  Early  established  a  signal  station,  and  looked 
right  down  upon  every  Union  move.  Sheridan  sent  a  small 
force  and  captured  the  post,  destroying  the  station.  Early 
retaliated  by  pushing  up  a  larger  force,  retaking  the  heights, 
and  re-establishing  his  provoking  signalling. 

At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  night  of  August  15  the  left  wing  began 
the  retrogressive  movement.  It  was  generally  understood  that 
a  retreat  was  meant.  There  was  danger  enough  surrounding 
the  army  to  spice  the  occasion,  and  lift  the  column  out  of  the 
monotony  of  a  weary  march.  None  of  the  Fourteenth  present 
will  ever  forget  the  wild  picturesqueness  of  that  midnight  re 
treat.  It  was  a  dismal  night,  with  the  rain  falling  heavily. 
The  camp-fires  were  ordered  to  be  replenished  and  to  be  left 
burning  brightly.  They  cast  strange  shadows  of  an  army  steal 
ing  away  from  its  position  in  front  of  a  vigilant  foe. 

The  left  wing  pressed  on  in  rapid  march  until  daylight,  many 
of  the  men  sleeping  considerably  while  keeping  their  places  in 
line.  At  six  A.M.  the  column  filed  into  an  open  field  just  out 
side  of  Winchester,  line  was  formed,  arms  stacked ;  and  the  men 
dropped  like  stones,  sleeping  all  the  forenoon,  with  no  protec 
tion  from  the  morning  sun.  That  clay,  the  16th,  Sheridan 
moved  his  headquarters  back  to  Winchester. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  whole  army  was  in  motion 
toward  Berryville  and  Clifton,  the  latter  position  being  occu- 


G ROVER'S  DIVISION.  195 

pied  by  the  Sixth  and  Eighth  Corps.  On  the  afternoon  of  that 
day  the  Union  cavalry  fell  back  to  Winchester.  That  morning 
Early  had  been  apprised  by  his  signal  officer  of  the  retreat  of 
Sheridan,  and  at  once  began  a  headlong  pursuit.  The  Rebels 
got  into  Winchester  at  sundown,  driving  out  our  cavalry,  and 
one  brigade  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  The  same  evening  Early  was 
re-enforced  by  Kershaw's  division  and  two  brigades  of  Fitz  Lee's 
cavalry.  This  was  the  force  of  whose  approach  Grant  had 
notified  Sheridan. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th  Grover's  division  joined  the 
army,  although  the  two  wings  of  the  Fourteenth  were  not  re 
united  until  the  next  day.  This  morning  the  corps  marched 
until  nine  A.M.,  then  halted  until  four  P.M.,  when  the  march 
was  resumed,  the  army  bivouacking  at  dark  about  two  miles 
south  of  Charlestown. 


THE  RIGHT  WING. 

As  related  in  Part  III.,  the  right  wing  of  the  Fourteenth  had 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  reasons  for  the  with 
drawal  of  the  entire  Nineteenth  Corps  from  that  army  have  also 
been  given.  The  following  continues  the  record  of  the  right 
wing  until  its  union  with  the  other  battalion  and  with  Sheri 
dan's  army. 

At  daylight  on  the  31st  of  July,  the  brigade  marched  to  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  and  embarked  for  Washington  on  the  steamer 
"  S.  R.  Spaulding,"  which  sailed  at  noon  with  the  brigade  head 
quarters,  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  and  Twelfth  Me.  on 
board,  and  arrived  at  Washington  at  noon,  August  1.  At  five 
P.M.  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  disembark,  and  proceed  to  Fred 
erick  by  rail. 

After  a  night  spent  in  embarking,  the  troops  were  ordered  in 
the  morning  (August  2)  to  disembark,  and  proceed  to  Tennally- 
town,  seven  miles  from  the  Capitol,  where  they  arrived  in  the 
evening  of  the  same  day,  and  went  into  camp. 

They  remained  here  until  the  morning  of  the  14th,  when 
they  marched  for  Snicker's  Gap.  Twelve  miles  from  Tennally- 


196  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

town  a  halt  was  made  about  noon  ;  and  the  march  was  resumed 
the  following  morning,  Broad  Run  being  reached  a  little  before 
noon.  The  troops  bore  the  march  well,  and  remained  in  good 
condition,  arriving  at  Leesburg  the  16th,  after  a  ten-hours' 
march. 

The  next  day  they  went  into  camp  near  the  mountains,  but 
had  remained  but  a  few  hours  when  orders  were  received  to 
proceed  to  Berry ville ;  and  in  little  more  than  half  an  hour 
the  men  were  again  on  the  march,  crossing  the  Blue  Ridge  at 
Snicker's  Gap. 

The  Shenandoah  was  forded  early  in  the  evening ;  and  the 
weary  troops  reached  Berryville  at  midnight,  only  to  march 
again  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  joining  the  Nineteenth 
Corps  just  outside  the  town.  The  army  was  then  falling  back 
on  Harper's  Ferry.  After  a  few  hours'  halt  during  the  middle 
of  the  day,  the  march  was  resumed ;  and  at  9.30  P.M.  the  brigade 
took  up  its  position  about  two  miles  from  Charlestown,  the 
Sixth  Corps  on  the  right,  and  the  Eighth  Corps  on  the  left,  of 
the  brigade. 

Gen.  Birge  and  staff,  with  some  others,  slept  that  night  on 
fence-rails,  with  no  blankets,  and  without  having  any  supper. 
During  the  night  of  the  18th,  Grover's  division  reached  its 
position  in  line  ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  two  wings 
were  re-united,  after  having  been  separated  for  more  than  five 
weeks.  The  right  wing  had  depleted  its  companies  during  that 
time  more  than  the  left. 

Here  occurred  a  difficulty  quite  common  in  many  regiments, 
but  rare  in  the  Fourteenth ;  i.e.,  a  difficulty  between  two  com 
panies.  There  had  always  existed  considerable  not  ill-natured 
jealousy,  throughout  the  regiment,  of  one  or  two  companies, 
which  were  supposed  to  be  more  favored  than  the  others. 
Perhaps  some  were  ahead  of  others  in  the  matters  of  privilege 
and  promotion ;  and,  if  so,  it  would  be  an  unprofitable  task  to 
discuss  the  reasons  or  pretexts  for  such  discrimination.  It  may 
occur  to  an  outsider,  that  possibly  some  companies  were  better 
than  others.  But  the  episode  here  considered  cannot  be  re 
ferred  to  any  jealousy.  There  was  some  "  pure  cussedness " 


A    SLIGHT  SCRIMMAGE.  197 

somewhere  ;  and,  in  an  organization  not  so  thoroughly  amenable 
to  discipline  as  the  Fourteenth,  the  consequences  might  have 
been  serious.  The  trouble  was  between  F  and  K.  One  com 
pany  accused  the  other  of  stealing  its  rails,  boards,  etc.  It  is 
rather  late  in  the  day  to  inquire  which  was  the  accuser  and 
which  the  accused.  Those  rails  and  boards  were  stolen  in  the 
first  place,  and  it  was  a  question  of  who  did  the  second  stealing. 
The  aggrieved  party  clung  to  the  legal  maxim  of  "  honor  among 
thieves,"  and  company  spirit  ran  high.  F  was  arrayed  against 
K ;  and  those  who  knew  least  of  the  origin  of  the  trouble,  were 
most  furious  in  denunciation  of  the  other  company.  They 
were  ready  to  go  in  and  have  a  row  of  some  dimensions.  The 
six  subsequent  weeks  of  campaigning  took  pretty  much  all  of 
this  subsidiary  fighting  vim  out  of  those  eager  spirits.  The  row 
waxed  to  that  dignity  where  the  major  —  that  was  just  before 
the  right  wing  arrived  —  ordered  the  officers  to  settle  it. 
When  Major  Gardiner  gave  an  emphatic  order,  it  was  always 
found  convenient  to  obey  it.  There  was  some  backing  down  ; 
and  some  rails  changed  hands  again,  though  they  were  fearfully 
shrunken  d  la  Old  Claggetts. 

August  20  the  Fourteenth  lay  quiet,  receiving  a  big  mail 
from  home. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  it  advanced  a  little  toward  the 
enemy,  to  straighten  the  general  line,  and  was  busy  all  day  in 
throwing  up  a  respectable  earth-line  of  defences.  Early  had, 
on  the  19th,  extended  his  left  to  Bunker  Hill ;  and  on  the  21st 
he  threw  forward  his  left  to  Summit  Point,  his  right  resting  on 
Winchester.  His  line  of  battle  ran  north  and  south,  facing 
east.  The  Union  line  faced  west,  commanding  the  fords  of  the 
Opequan  ;  the  line  running  from  the  Smithfield  pike  through 
Clifton,  and  crossing  the  Berry ville  pike. 

On  the  21st  Early  attempted  to  get  into  the  rear  of  Sheri 
dan's  right  by  moving  a  force  rapidly  through  Smithfield,  but 
he  failed.  All  day  there  was  heavy  skirmishing,  Early  press 
ing  Sheridan's  right  considerably.  Early  says  that  he  "  made  a 
general  movement  toward  Harper's  Ferry,"  and  he  only  waited 
for  re-enforcements  from  his  centre  to  make  a  general  attack. 


198  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

When  he  got  his  re-enforcements,  there  was  nothing  to  attack; 
for  at  eleven  P.M.  the  Union  army  suddenly  fell  back,  and, 
marching  nearly  all  night,  took  position  on  the  ridges  at  Hall- 
town.  Early  makes  the  ridiculous  statement  that  "Sheridan 
had  taken  a  strong  position  under  the  protection  of  the  heavy 
guns  on  Maryland  Heights."  The  Union  troops  never  dreamed 
of  such  distant  protection.  Sheridan  did  have  a  line  extending 
across  the  Valley  from  the  Potomac  to  the  Shenandoah,  and 
Early  dared  not  press  upon  it. 

For  the  next  few  days  there  were  several  reconnoissances  by 
both  sides,  and  frequent  skirmishing  between  the  armies,  which 
really  amounted  to  battles. 

On  the  25th  occurred  an  engagement  which  was  a  mutual 
surprise.  And  in  this  event  the  wonderful  mastery  of  the 
science  of  war  by  Sheridan  is  apparent.  A  less  able  commander 
would  have  been  outwitted.  Sheridan  was  constantly  feeling 
of  the  enemy,  and  on  the  25th  sent  out  a  heavy  cavalry  recon- 
noissance.  This  body  met  a  strong  force  of  Rebel  infantry  and 
cavalry  marching  toward  Williamsport.  Early  had  weakened 
his  main  line,  to  send  off  this  raiding  party.  Sheridan  after 
ward  believed  that  the  Rebel  leader  was  up  to  his  old  trick  of 
crossing  into  Maryland  and  creating  another  panic.  Early 
explains  it  by  saying,  "  I  intended  to  move  to  Williamsport,  as 
if  to  cross  into  Maryland,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  fear  of  an 
invasion  of  Pennsylvania."  At  any  rate,  when  the  Yankee 
cavalry  met  his  secretly  planned  expedition  in  a  smart  battle,  he 
thought  the  whole  manoeuvre  had  been  discovered,  and  that 
Sheridan  would  pounce  upon  his  weakened  line  ;  so  he  raced  his 
infantry  back  into  line  again.  His  movement  so  isolated  Ous 
ter's  brigade  of  cavalry  from  the  remainder  of  the  Union  recon- 
noissance,  that  he  had  to  go  away  round  through  Williamsport 
and  Harper's  Ferry  before  he  could  join  the  army  again. 

On  the  26th  there  was  heavy  skirmishing  well  up  to  our  lines; 
and  the  Fourteenth  boys  will  remember  the  fine  spectacle  which 
they  beheld  beneath  them,  in  the  fields  where  the  long  and  per 
sistent  lines  of  smoke-puffs  showed  the  range  of  the  contest. 
We  now  come  to  the  entering  wedge  which  finally  split  the 


EARLY  RETREATING.  199 

Rebel  phalanx  in  the  Valley,  and  utterly  disintegrated  treason 
between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  North  Mountains.  Early  was 
getting  an  idea,  into  his  head  entirely  new  to  him.  He  was 
finding  his  match  —  and  more.  He  was  getting  anxious,  and 
that  anxiety  was  a  speedy  leaven. 

During  the  night  of  the  26th  he  showed  his  heels  to  the 
"  Yanks,"  and  retreated  to  his  line  covering  Winchester,  his 
left  at  Bunker  Hill,  with  a  cavalry  force  at  Stephenson's  Depot, 
away  in  front  of  his  left. 

On  the  28th  the  whole  Union  army  advanced  to  Charlestown  ; 
while  the  cavalry  attacked  the  advanced  post  above  mentioned, 
and  drove 'it  back. 

On  the  29th  Averill,  with  his  cavalry,  moved  from  Williams- 
port  to  Martinsburg  ;  but,  as  this  was  a  smart  menace  of  the 
enemy's  left,  they  drove  him  back  again  across  the  Potomac. 

The  next  day  there  was  a  hard  battle  on  our  right,  at  Smith- 
field  Bridge,  where  the  Rebel  cavalry  drove  the  Union  troops 
smartly  until  Sheridan  re-enforced  them,  when  the  Johnnies 
took  a  much  stiffer  dose  of  their  own  physic. 

The  camp  or  bivouac  —  these  terms  are  not  used  with  dis 
tinctive  .accuracy  —  of  the  Fourteenth  at  Charlestown  was  de 
lightfully  located,  in  an  undulating  field  covered  by  a  fine  piece  of 
timber.  An  immense  spring  of  excellent  water  near  by  rendered 
the  spot  an  admirable  one  for  its  use.  Here  another  phase  of 
the  beautiful  "  Garden  of  the  South "  was  seen  and  enjoyed. 
The  men  were  well  recovered  from  the  fearful  strain  of  the  first 
marching  in  this  lively  campaign.  When  the  army  first  ad 
vanced  up  the  Valley,  it  suffered  beyond  description.  Day  after 
day  scores  of  men  in  the  Fourteenth  were  roused  for  the  day's 
march  wifoen  it  was  agony  for  them  to  stand  upon  their  feet. 
Blisters  puffed  out  from  the  bottoms  of  their  feet,  covering  half 
the  treading  surface.  Every  step  for  the  first  hour  was  torture ; 
and  then,  getting  "limbered  up"  and  inured  to  the  pain,  they 
cheerfully  jogged  on,  to  repeat  the  experience  on  the  next 
morning.  The  writer  has  some  reason  to  know  that  this  is  no 
exaggeration.  The  prudent  sufferers  washed  their  feet  every 
night,  never  in  the  morning,  and,  before  starting  each  day, 


200  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

soaped  the  inside  of  their  socks  thoroughly.  Then,  if  they  were 
tolerably  well  shod,  sore  feet  could  be  cured  while  marching 
every  day. 

From  the  1st  to  the  3d  of  September  there  was  a  lull  in 
manoeuvring  and  fighting. 

On  the  3d  Averill  made  a  determined  push  eastward  from 
Martinsburg,  defeating  the  Rebel  cavalry,  and  capturing  valua 
ble  property.  In  concert  with  this,  the  infantry  moved  on  and 
occupied  the  position  stretching  from  Clifton  to  Berryville; 
the  Sixth  Corps  going  by  Summit  Point,  the  Nineteenth  by  the 
Berryville  pike.  Crook  was  on  the  left,  beyond  Berryville. 

It  was  at  twilight  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  that  the  Four 
teenth  filed  to  the  right  from  the  pike,  having  marched  from 
Charlestown,  and,  after  proceeding  for  half  a  mile  through 
wooded  and  open  country,  camped  on  the  ridge,  where  it  re 
mained  for  more  than  a  fortnight.  The  boys  will  remember  the 
hour's  halt  on  the  pike  before  the  column  turned  aside  for  camp 
ing,  and  will,  perhaps,  much  more  readily  recall  the  hour's  firing 
just  in  front  while  the  line  was  moving  from  the  pike  to  the 
camp.  It  was  thought  that  the  Fourteenth  was  getting  into  a 
very  warm  place.  This  is  the  explanation  of  that  engagement, 
which  was  liveliest  just  after  dark.  Torbert,  with  his  cavalry, 
had  been  ordered  to  White  Post  —  away  beyond  our  left  and 
toward  the  enemy  —  early  in  the  day;  and  it  was  one  of  Early 's 
bright  ideas  to  cut  him  off.  Coming  across  the  Opequan,  Ker- 
shaw's  division  aimed  for  him,  but  had  not  calculated  on  being 
opposed  by  infantry.  But  Sheridan  was  not  up  there  for  child's 
play,  and  it  so  happened  that  Crook  was  right  there ;  and  Ker- 
shaw  found  it  out  just  about  dark;  and  a  good  deal  after  dark 
the  situation  was  so  illuminated  by  Crook's  charges  that  Kershaw 
was  able  to  take  those  of  his  men  who  were  not  killed,  at  a 
lively  gait  back  to  the  Opequan.  In  that  blood  the  camp  near 
Berryville  was  christened.  A  good  view  of  this  camp  is  given. 

Both  armies  remained  in  about  the  same  position  until  the 
famous  19th. 

At  this  time  there  was  very  little  difference  in  the  strength 
of  the  opposing  forces. 


DELAY  AT  BERRYVILLE.  201 

Sheridan  thus  explains  his  delay  at  Berry ville:  "As  I  had 
learned  beyond  doubt,  from  my  scouts,  that  Kershaw's  division, 
which  consisted  of  four  brigades,  was  to  be  ordered  back  to 
Richmond,  I  had  for  two  weeks  patiently  awaited  its  withdrawal 
before  attacking,  believing  the  condition  of  affairs  throughout 
the  country  required  great  prudence  on  my  part,  that  a  defeat 
of  the  forces  of  my  command  could  be  ill  afforded,  and  knowing 
that  no  interests  in  the  Valley,  save  those  of  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad,  were  suffering  by  the  delay.  In  this  view  I  was 
coinciding  with  the  lieutenant-general  commanding." 

Early  states  that  Lee  had  asked  the  return  of  Kershaw's  divis 
ion  ;  and  what  Sheridan  denominates  an  attempt  to  cut  off 
Torbert  at  White  Post  —  above  described  —  Early  says  was  the 
attempt  of  Kershaw  to  return  to  Lee  through  the  Blue-Ridge 
passes.  He  then  recounts  his  discovery  of  the  long  line  of 
Sheridan;  his  inability  to  flank  it;  also  Sheridan's  strong  posi 
tion,  which  he  was  fortifying ;  and  the  hazard  of  an  attack  in 
front.  These  considerations  induced  him  to  draw  back  his 
army  around  Winchester,  and  retain  Kershaw,  hoping  that 
Sheridan  would  move  out  of  his  strong  position  and  attack  him. 
If  history  is  true,  he  was  amply  gratified  when  the  spirit  moved 
"Little  Phil."  From  this  time  to  the  19th,  Sheridan  kept  his 
cavalry  busy,  constantly  harassing  the  enemy  at  all  points ; 
and,  as  he  says,  his  "  cavalry  was  becoming  educated  to  attack 
infantry  lines." 

On  the  13th  the  Union  forces,  both  of  cavalry  and  infantry, 
made  heavy  reconnoissances ;  the  former  achieving  a  brilliant 
success  at  Abraham's  Creek,  the  spot  soon  after  marched  over 
by  the  Fourteenth.  Early's  naive  description  of  the  affair  is  so 
funny  that  we  give  it :  "  A  very  sharp  artillery  duel  across  the 
creek  then  took  place;  and  some  of  my  infantry  crossed  over, 
when  the  enemy  retired."  Yes,  Gen.  Early,  some  of  your  in 
fantry  did  cross  over ;  but  you  forget  to  mention  that  a  large 
u  some  "  of  them  did  not  go  back  again  until  they  were  ex 
changed.  It  is  true,  as  Early  says,  that  "  the  enemy  retired  :  " 
but  his  memory  is  again  defective ;  for  he  does  not  record,  that, 
when  it  "  retired,"  the  enemy  took  with  it  the  Eighth  S.  C.  In- 


202  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

fantry,  entire,  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  pleasantest  thing  Early 
can  do,  is  to  forget  as  much  as  possible.  On  the  same  day  as 
the  above,  Getty's  division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  pressed  up  to  the 
Opequan,  —  six  miles  from  the  Union  lines,  —  developing  a 
heavy  Rebel  force  at  the  fords.  About  this  time  the  first  brigade 
of  Grover's  division,  including  the  Fourteenth,  made  a  recon- 
noissance  in  front  of  its  position,  Col.  Wilson  commanding,  and 
the  regiment  was  then,  for  the  first  time,  actually  under  musketry 
fire.  The  men  hardly  enjoyed  the  absurd  pastime  of  attempting 
to  dodge  the  bullets.  On  the  13th  the  men  began  to  stand  at 
arms  from  four  o'clock  until  daylight,  a  surprise  being  feared. 

On  the  17th  a  large  number  of  recruits  arrived,  most  of  them 
being  excellent  men,  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  the  original 
material.  The  events  soon  following  were  a  trying  ordeal  for 
them,  several  of  them  having  hardly  learned  the  facings  in  line 
before  the  first  great  battle  laid  them  in  soldiers'  graves. 

It  may  be  well  here  to  state  that  the  first  brigade,  second 
division,  Nineteenth  Corps,  was  constituted  as  follows,  from 
right  to  l«ft :  Ninth  Conn.,  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire,  Twen 
ty-sixth  Mass.,  Fourteenth  Me.,  Twelfth  Me.,  and  Seventy-fifth 
N.  Y. 

Just  before  the  battle  of  Winchester,  the  position  of  the 
Rebel  forces  was  as  follows :  Ramseur's  division  and  Nelson's 
battalion  of  artillery  were  on  the  road  from  Berry ville  to  Win 
chester,  one  mile  from  the  latter  place.  Rodes's,  Gordon's,  and 
Wharton's  divisions  (the  last  two  being  under  Breckinridge), 
and  Braxton's  and  King's  battalions  of  artillery,  were  at  Stephen- 
son's  depot  on  the  Winchester  and  Potomac  Railroad,  which  is 
six  miles  from  Winchester.  Lomax's  cavalry  were  picketed  in 
Early 's  front  on  the  Opequan,  and  on  his  left  from  that  stream 
to  North  Mountain  ;  while  Fitz  Lee's  cavalry  watched  the  right, 
having  small  pickets  across  to  the  Shenandoah.  Berryville 
is  ten  miles  from  Winchester,  nearly  east,  and  Martinsburg 
twenty-two  miles,  nearly  north.  The  crossing  of  the  Opequan 
on  the  Berryville  road  is  four  or  five  miles  from  Winchester. 
From  Berryville  there  are  two  good  roads  to  Front  Royal,  via 
Millwood  and  White  Post :  and  from  Millwood  there  is  a  mac- 


THE  IMPENDING   CONTEST.  203 

adamized  road  to  Winchester,  and  also  good  roads  via  White 
Post  to  the  valley  pike  at  Newtown  and  Middletown,  the  last 
two  roads  running  east  of  the  Opequan.  The  whole  country  is 
very  open,  being  a  limestone  country,  which  is  thickly  settled 
and  well  cleared,  and  affords  great  facilities  for  the  movement 
of  troops  and  the  operations  of  cavalry. 

Early  affirms  that  his  reason  for  holding  that  position  was  to 
"  keep  the  enemy  from  using  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
and  the  canal,  and  to  keep  as  large  a  force  as  possible  away 
from  Grant."  If  Early  could  have  fought  as  well  as  he  disfig 
ured  the  truth  and  drank  apple-jack,  the  Rebellion  might  have 
succeeded  —  in  the  Valley.  The  following  remarkable  opinion 
of  Jubal  Early,  in  which  he  refers  to  the  month  just  preceding 
the  battle  of  the  Opequan,  will  probably  amuse  the  Fourteenth 
boys  as  much  as  any  passage  between  these  covers. 

"  The  events  of  the  last  month  had  satisfied  me  that  the 
commander  opposed  to  me  was  without  enterprise,  and  pos 
sessed  an  excessive  caution  which  amounted  to  timidity.  If  it 
was  his  policy  to  produce  the  impression  that  his  force  was  too 
weak  to  fight  me,  he  did  not  succeed ;  but  if  it  was  to  convince 
me  that  he  was  not  an  able  or  energetic  commander,  his  strategy 
was  a  complete  success,  and  subsequent  events  have  not  changed 
my  opinion." 

His  countenance  must  have  worn  a  broad  grin,  when  he  fig 
ured  up  the  opposing  forces,  as  they  confronted  each  other  Sep 
tember  18,  as  follows :  Sheridan,  thirty-five  thousand  infantry, 
ten  thousand  cavalry,  total  forty-five  thousand ;  Early,  eighty- 
five  hundred  infantry,  twenty-nine  hundred  cavalry,  total  eleven 
thousand  four  hundred.  Sheridan  has  exposed  the  slight  inac 
curacy  of  these  figures  by  showing  that  he  took  more  than 
twice  as  many  prisoners  as  Early  admits  having  in  his  entire 
army.  The  fact  is,  as  previously  stated,  that  the  two  armies 
were  about  equal,  with  Early  enjoying  several  obvious  and 
important  advantages. 


204  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  OPEQUAN. 

Sheridan  had  determined  not  to  manoeuvre  Early  up  the 
Valley,  but  to  fight  him  out  of  it,  —  to  break  the  Rebel  power 
once  and  for  all  in  the  "  Granary  of  the  Confederacy."  But  he 
did  not  intend  to  fight  the  battle  of  the  Opequan  (or,  as  it  is 
popularly  termed,  the  battle  of  Winchester)  until  the  action 
was  begun  in  the  early  morning.  Having  learned,  on  the  15th, 
that  Kershaw,  with  two  divisions,  was  moving  through  Win 
chester  to  Front  Royal,  Sheridan  determined  to  fight  at  New- 
town  :  that  is,  he  proposed  to  abandon  his  own  line  entirely, 
move  round  by  the  left  flank  between  Newtown  and  Winches 
ter,  stretch  his  army  across  the  Valley,  and  so  cut  off  Early's 
retreat  up  the  Valley,  and  compel  him  to  fight  for  life.  The 
same  day  Gen.  Grant  visited  Sheridan,  and  commended  the 
plan.  The  orders  were  all  issued  for  the  move,  the  Fourteenth 
receiving  notice  Saturday  night  to  break  camp  the  next  morn 
ing.  This  order  was  carried  out ;  and  the  men  were  somewhat 
surprised  at  having  to  occupy  the  dismantled  camp  through  the 
whole  of  Sunday  and  Sunday  night.  This  is  the  explanation  : 
On  the  afternoon  of  that  Sunday,  the  18th,  Averill  informed 
Sheridan  that  Early  had  moved  two  divisions  to  Martinsburg. 
Sheridan  at  once  altered  his  plan,  determining  to  strike  the 
two  divisions  remaining  at  Stephenson's  depot,  and  then  attack 
the  force  which  had  moved  to  Martinsburg.  For  this  purpose 
the  army  moved  across  the  Opequan  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th  of  September. 

At  one  o'clock  that  morning  the  Fourteenth  was  aroused, 
cooked  its  coffee  hurriedly,  and  at  two  o'clock  was  on  the 
march.  The  column  moved  across  the  fields,  and  struck  the 
Winchester  pike  just  beyond  Berryville,  the  infantry  marching 
each  side,  while  the  wagon-trains  kept  the  pike.  The  column 
in  which  the  first  brigade  marched  kept  to  the  right  of  the 
pike.  Just  before  reaching  the  ford  of  the  Opequan,  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps  was  unfortunately  delayed  for  about  two  hours. 
The  blame  has  never  been  fixed  to  everybody's  satisfaction. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  wagons  of  the  Sixth  Corps  blocked  up 


UNACCOUNTABLE  DELAY.  205 

the  way  and  prevented  the  Nineteenth  Corps  from  closing  up 
promptly  to  the  rear  of  the  Sixth.  It  is  equally  certain  that 
those  wagons  ought  to  have  been  parked  out  of  the  way ;  yet  it 
is  not  possible  to  say  precisely  why  they  were  not.  This  and 
another  circumstance  favored  Early,  precipitated  a  battle  on 
ground  which  Sheridan  did  not  select  until  after  daylight,  and 
in  many  ways  affected  the  progress  of  the  campaign.  Sheridan 
was  apprised,  early  in  the  morning,  that  he  had  got  to  fight  the 
entire  Rebel  army  between  the  Opequan  Creek  and  Winchester. 

Early  did  move  two  divisions  to  Martinsburg  on  the  18th ; 
and  while  there,  through  a  traitor  or  a  spy,  he  learned  from  the 
telegraph-office,  which  Sheridan  had  open  there,  that  Grant 
was  with  the  Union  army.  This  put  him  on  his  guard ;  and 
the  two  divisions  were  marched  back  as  far  as  Bunker  Hill, 
being  within  call  on  the  19th.  The  delay  of  the  Nineteenth 
Corps  enabled  "Early  to  mass  his  force.  In  conjunction  with 
the  infantry  movement  on  our  right,  Torbert  and  Merritt  ad 
vanced  their  cavalry  from  Summit  Point  toward  Stephenson's 
depot.  Farther  to  the  right  Averill  was  swinging  round,  and 
moving  on  the  Martinsburg  pike  toward  Bunker  Hill  and  Win 
chester,  to  operate,  when  the  time  came,  on  the  Rebel  left  flank. 
Away  to  the  left  of  Abraham's  Creek,  Wilson  was  moving  his 
cavalry  to  get  around  the  Rebel  right  so  as  to  cut  off  his  line 
of  retreat.  At  this  point  the  aim  of  the  Union  cavalry  was 
frustrated  all  day  by  Lomax's  cavalry. 

About  7  o'clock  the  ford  of  the  Opequan  was  reached  (see 
illustration)  ;  and  soon  after  Abraham's  Creek  was  crossed,  and 
the  Nineteenth  Corps  hurried  through  the  gorge  which  was  the 
key  to  the  Union  position.  Before  the  defile,  which  was  well 
covered  with  thick  undergrowth,  was  passed,  a  sight  confronted 
the  troops  which  peculiarly  affected  the  Fourteenth,  as  it  was  en 
tirely  novel  to  a  regiment  unused  to  fighting.  The  shaded  grass 
for  some  distance  flanking  the  pike  was  covered  with  wounded 
men,  the  results  of  the  cavalry  fight  of  the  early  morning. 
A  field  hospital  had  been  established,  and  the  surgeon's  knife 
was  in  full  play.  The  faces  of  the  Fourteenth  boys  grew  pale, 
their  teeth  were  set,  and  the  conviction  ran  through  the  ranks 


206  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

that  the  hour  of  desperate  battle  was  about  to  strike.  Such  a 
spectacle  was  not  the  most  cheerful  of  preparations  for  a  green 
battalion,  as  it  nerved  itself  for  the  first  great  shock  of  war. 
The  Nineteenth  Corps  held  to  the  pike  until  within  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  Winchester,  and  then  filed  to  the  right  and  halted, 
occupying  higher  ground.  The  corps  was  formed  in  four  lines, 
with  the  first  brigade  of  the  second  division  holding  the  right 
of  the  front  line ;  and,  as  the  Ninth  Conn,  was  detached  for  a 
flanking  regiment,  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  held  the 
right  of  the  front  of  the  entire  line  of  battle.  The  army  was 
drawn  up  with  the  Nineteenth  Corps  on  the  right,  the  Sixth 
Corps  on  the  left,  flanked  by  cavalry,  the  Eighth  Corps  held  in 
reserve  to  be  used  in  turning  the  left  flank  of  the  enemy. 

The  lines  were  formed  before  ten  o'clock,  and  the  front  line 
was  then  advanced  a  short  distance,  halting  just  before  reaching 
a  piece  of  timber.  Here  the  men  rested  for  nearly  two  hours ; 
the  last  two  hours  of  mortal  life  for  many  of  the  noblest  of  the 
Fourteenth,  our  comrades  for  more  than  two  years  of  hard  ser 
vice  in  arms.  With  perfect  unconcern  the  men  lay  down,  most 
of  them  snatching  an  early  dinner  from  their  haversacks.  Noth 
ing  in  the  demeanor  of  the  troops  indicated  an  expected  battle. 
Never  were  they  more  quiet  and  composed ;  and  little  pleasant 
ries  were  bantered  between  those  who,  just  beyond  those  woods, 
before  high  noon  should  strike,  would  utter  the  last  groan,  or 
die  without  a  groan. 

Sheridan  had  personally  directed  the  formation  of  the  army. 
The  front  line  crossed  the  Berryville  pike  two  and  a  quarter 
miles  east  of  Winchester,  and  two  and  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  Opequan  Creek.  The  line  of  battle  extended  from  Abra 
ham's  Creek  on  the  left  to  Red  Bud  Run  on  the  right,  a  distance 
of  one  mile  and  a  third ;  while  from  Wilson  away  to  the  left  the 
great  semicircle  of  Union  manoeuvring  extended  around  to 
Averill  on  the  right,  a  distance  of  almost  six  miles.  The  Sixth 
Corps  was  on  each  side  of  the  pike,  while  the  Fourteenth  Regi 
ment —  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  —  was  seven  hundred 
yards  to  the  right  of  the  pike.  This  was  the  Union  position  at 
11.40  A.M. 


POSITION   OF   THE  FORCES.  207 

The  Rebel  line  at  that  time  was  as  follows  from  right  to  left  : 
Lomax's  cavalry,  Ramseur's,  Rodes's, — just  arrived,  —  and  Gor 
don's  divisions  of  infantry,  with  Fitz  Lee's  cavalry  and  battery 
on  the  immediate  left.  Wharton  and  Breckenridge  do  not 
appear  to  have  engaged  in  the  battle  until  afternoon.  The 
Rebels  were  strongly  posted. 

The  Fourteenth  remained  in  line  for  two  hours  before  the 
general  advance  was  ordered.  Col.  Walker,  in  his  history  of 
the  Vermont  Brigade,  declares  that  "  it  was  noon  before  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  had  reached  its  place,  and  was  formed  in  three 
or  four  lines  on  the  right  of  the  Sixth."  The  only  comment  to 
be  made  on  the  above  is,  that  the  colonel  is  entirely  mistaken,  as 
the  context  shows.  We  notice  but  one  other  of  the  misstate- 
ments  of  this  writer.  Farther  on,  the  inaccuracies  of  another 
Sixth  Corps  historian  will  be  alluded  to.  That  corps  did  not 
lack  in  appreciation  of  its  own  services,  nor,  sometimes,  in  dis 
paragement  of  other  organizations.  Col.  Walker  remarks  of 
the  first  charge :  "  The  Nineteenth  Corps  appears  to  have  gone 
in  impetuously  and  with  little  order."  The  comments  of  the 
following  pages  will  meet  this  false  criticism ;  but  we  leave  to 
the  eulogist  of  the  Vermont  Brigade  the  explanation  of  the 
break-up  on  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  during  that  first 
advance. 

Sheridan  had  got  his  army  in  hand,  and  was  about  to  meet 
the  pompous  Rebel  general,  and  try  the  metal  of  the  two 
armies. 

Company  E,  of  the  Fourteenth,  Capt.  Tolman,  did  not  go 
into  the  battle  in  the  beginning,  as  it  had  been  detailed  for 
several  weeks,  a  pioneer  company  at  brigade  headquarters.  On 
the  morning  of  the  battle  Capt.  Tolman  was  ordered  to  the 
rear  in  charge  of  intrenching  tools.  Afterward,  on  his  own 
responsibility,  he  led  his  company  in,  and  was  then  ordered  to 
rejoin  the  regiment,  which  he  did  near  the  close  of  the  action, 
rendering  important  service. 

Col.  Gardiner  ordered  Lieut.  Sturtevant  to  deploy  his  com 
pany,  G,  as  skirmishers.  Before  the  skirmish-line  deployed, 
the  colonel  ordered  two  of  the  band,  members  of  Company  G, 


208  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

to  be  detailed  to  follow  the  line,  and  assist  the  wounded.  The 
band-leader  called  for  volunteers ;  and  Joseph  S.  Doolittle  and 
Thomas  S.  Mower  immediately  stepped  forward,  and  accom 
panied  the  skirmishers. 

Lieut.  Sturtevant  was  the  only  officer  in  his  company.  He 
marched  his  men  to  the  front  a  few  minutes  before  ten  o'clock, 
and  then  deployed  by  the  right  flank.  His  bugler  being  absent, 
sick,  Lieut.  Fiske,  of  K,  loaned  his  bugler,  J.  M.  Smith,  who 
stuck  to  the  line  gallantly  until  Lieut.  Sturtevant  was  struck 
down.  As  the  skirmish-line  moved  off,  Lieut.  Fiske  grasped  the 
hand  of  his  friend,  and  said,  "  Good-by,  John  :  take  care  of  your 
self."  There  was  a  prevalent  feeling  that  the  impending  move 
ment  was  "  into  the  jaws  of  death." 

The  skirmish-line  of  the  Fourteenth  advanced  through  the 
woods,  and  halted  under  cover ;  the  right  of  the  line  resting  on 
Red  Bud  Run,  while  the  left  joined  the  skirmishers  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Mass. 

At  eleven  o'clock  Col.  Gardiner  —  he  had  been  mustered  as 
colonel  only  the  day  before  —  called  the  officers  to  the  rear  and 
centre,  and,  facing  the  men  about,  informed  them  that  we  were 
surrounded,  the  enemy  was  in  our  rear,  and  that  we  must  cut 
our  way  out  to  the  front.  That  direction  must  have  come  from 
some  higher  authority,  although  it  never  could  have  emanated 
from  Sheridan.  There  was  no  truth  whatever  in  the  informa 
tion;  and  the  motive  for  so  instructing  the  Fourteenth  was 
presumably  grounded  in  the  fear,  that,  as  the  regiment  had 
never  been  tried  under  heavy  fire,  it  might  waver.  It  must 
have  been  the  aim  to  frighten  the  weak-kneed  ones  into  keep 
ing  in  line  by  picturing  the  danger  of  an  attempt  to  run  to  the 
rear.  At  any  rate,  it  was  an  unworthy  artifice,  originating  in 
the  mind  of  some  one  who  little  knew  the  temper  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  boys.  The  communication  produced  no  appreciable 
effect,  and  elicited  little  comment. 

At  11.40  A.M.  the  general  advance  was  ordered.  As  quietly 
as  on  parade  the  men  stepped  to  their  places  in  the  ranks.  The 
Union  army  was  in  motion,  entering  the  cover  at  once.  The  first 
line  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  Grover's  division,  consisted  of 


THE  BATTLE   OPENED.  209 

the  first  and  third  brigades.  The  second  line,  forty  rods  to 
the  rear,  was  formed  by  the  fourth  and  second  brigades.  Be 
hind  the  second  line  were  the  reserves,  consisting  of  the  first 
division  in  two  lines.  In  passing  through  the  belt  of  woods,  a 
distance  of  six  hundred  yards,  the  alignment  became  somewhat 
disturbed  ;  and  the  regiment  was  halted  just  before  the  clearing 
was  reached,  and  the  line  straightened.  The  entire  front  line 
then  moved  out  from  cover,  and  advanced  slowly  into  that  ter 
rible  open  field  of  death.  There  was  little  premonition  of  the 
impending  carnage ;  for  nothing  more  than  desultory  firing  was 
then  heard  along  our  front,  and  that  was  the  preliminary  death- 
play  of  the  skirmishers.  Even  then  the  battle  of  the  Opequan 
was  not  begun. 

It  was  the  intention  of  Gen.  Emory,  under  the  direction  of 
Sheridan,  that  the  first  line  should  advance  to  the  centre  of  the 
field  and  lie  down;  yet  here,  as  at  Balaklava,  " somebody  blun 
dered."  The  comments  published  in  many  accounts  of  the 
battle  are  grossly  misleading.  There  was  either  a  dreadful 
blunder  perpetrated,  or,  worse,  a  piece  of  criminal  folly  was 
indulged  in ;  but  the  fault  rests  wholly  with  one  man,  a  staff- 
officer  who  did  give  the  order  for  the  first  brigade  to  charge. 
It  was  a  dangerous  command  to  issue,  for  the  first  brigade 
obeyed  orders  with  an  awful  fidelity.  As  the  line  of  battle 
moved  through  the  woods,  the  skirmishers  advanced,  and  reached 
a  point  half-way  across  the  open  field,  halting  behind  the  stump 
fence,  enduring  a  galling  fire.  They  could  hear  the  commands 
to  the  Rebel  cannoneers  on  the  bluff  across  the  Run,  to  the 
right ;  and,  altogether,  the  Fourteenth  skirmish-line  found  itself 
in  a  hot  spot.  The  enemy's  picket-line  received  the  Union  skir 
mishers  with  a  rapid  fire,  there  being  no  shelter  after  leaving 
the  woods.  When  the  skirmishers  had  pressed  on  half-way 
across  the  field,  as  before  stated,  the  Rebel  skirmish-line  fell 
back,  and  the  firing  slackened. 

Just  then  Fitz  Lee  opened  a  finely  posted  battery  with  telling 
effect  upon  this  slender  advance  of  the  Union  force.  Lieut. 
Sturtevant  was  the  first  member  of  the  Fourteenth  wounded,  as 
when  he  was  thrown  flat  by  an  exploding  shell,  one  piece  enter- 


210  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

ing  his  arm,  the  main  line  had  not  emerged  from  the  woods. 
Lieut.  Sturtevant  tied  up  his  arm,  and  remained  at  his  post. 
When  urged  to  go  to  the  rear  he  refused.  The  skirmish-line 
found  itself  so  far  to  the  right,  that,  when  the  main  line  ad 
vanced,  it  was  not  supported.  The  enemy's  line  afterward 
advanced  so  close  as  to  demand  a  surrender  in  pretty  emphatic 
phrasing ;  and  with  great  difficulty  the  lieutenant  extricated  his 
company,  which  he  did,  the  men  falling  back  coolly  and  in  good 
order.  It  is  evident  that  Company  G,  by  its  steadiness  and 
gallantry  that  day,  proved  the  stuff  it  was  made  of  in  a  splendid 
fashion,  and  emulated  the  discipline  of  veteran  fighters.  Lieut. 
Sturtevant  hobbled  back  as  far  as  possible,  and  was  then  carried 
from  the  field  on  a  shelter  tent.  The  main  line  had  halted  for 
five  minutes.  Then  the  order,  "Forward  !  "  was  given,  and  the 
Fourteenth  entered  the  open  field.  That  field,  eight  hundred 
and  thirty  yards  across,  was  level  for  half  the  distance,  and  then 
sloped  up  to  the  next  belt  of  woods. 

Immediately  upon  quitting  the  cover,  the  line  came  under 
fire,  at  first  light  and  scattering.  For  one-third  of  the  distance 
the  advance  was  slow,  deliberate,  and  in  perfect  order,  the  guide 
being  to  the  left,  the  general  front  being  governed  by  the  move 
ment  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  Thus  far  the  Fourteenth  had  behaved 
as  well  as  any  regiment  could.  Would  the  men  stand  by  the 
colors,  and  hold  steadily  to  the  work  ?  Could  a  regiment  unused 
to  fighting  be  depended  upon  to  maintain  the  right  of  the  line 
on  such  a  momentous  occasion  ?  The  line  was  nearing  the  cen 
tre  of  the  field,  where  it  was  intended  it  should  lie  down ;  but 
no  order  to  halt  came.  On  the  contrary,  a  staff  officer  rode  up 
furiously,  and,  pointing  to  the  woods  in  front,  gave  the  order  to 
charge.  If  that  officer  had  forgotten  his  canteen  of  whiskey 
that  morning,  it  is  possible  the  order  would  never  have  been 
issued.  "  Charge  bayonets  !  "  "  Forward  !  double-quick  ! "  were 
the  orders,  and  the  line  sprang  forward  as  by  a  mighty,  irresisti 
ble  impulse.  There  was  nothing  "impetuous"  in  that  advance; 
the  men  never  raised  one  cheer ;  a  spirit  of  solemnity  seemed  to 
breathe  through  the  battalion :  but  the  men  were  dreadfully  in 
earnest.  The  wings  did  not  quite  keep  their  distance,  but 


UNDER   FIRE.  211 

crowded  the  centre.  Then  ensued  a  desperate  struggle,  a  re 
markable  fight  for  position ;  the  men  who  were  crowded  out  of 
line  striving  to  regain  their  places.  There  again  discipline  told. 
There,  with  a  regiment  of  men  rolling  down  into  the  very  vor 
tex  of  destruction,  the  writer  witnessed  the  almost  superhuman 
exertions  of  men  to  simply  hold  their  places  in  the  ranks. 
When  half-way  across  the  fatal  field,  the  Fourteenth  was  ex 
posed  to  a  murderous  fire.  The  first  volleys  of  the  Rebels  were 
too  high ;  the  colors  were  riddled,  and  the  terrible  whistle  and 
ping  of  Minie  bullets  just  above  their  heads  initiated  the  men 
into  the  society  of  death.  The  Fourteenth,  inexperienced  in 
fighting,  was  confronted  by  some  of  the  finest  troops  of  the 
South,  inured  to  hard  and  continuous  conflict.  The  enemy 
soon  got  down  to  efficient  work,  arid  then  the  men  began  to 
drop. 

Corpl.  Charles  A.  Ball,  of  the-color  guard,  was  probably 
the  first  man  struck  down ;  and  then  they  fell  from  right  to 
left.  It  was  indeed  the  havoc  of  an  awful  carnage.  Some  offi 
cer  at  the  right  of  the  battalion  gave  the  order  to  fire,  and  the 
entire  line  commenced  a  rapid  and  fairly  directed  fire.  The 
speed  of  the  advance  was  slackened  to  admit  of  the  firing. 
Here,  in  the  centre  of  the  field,  fell,  mortally  wounded,  the 
brave  Colburn  and  the  gallant  Paul.  Here,  too,  a  little  later, 
the  accomplished  captains  Fosgate  and  ChafBn  were  shot  dead. 
An  illustration  of  the  deadly  effect  of  the  fire  to  which  the 
Fourteenth  was  then  exposed  is  seen  in  the  case  of  four  men 
in  Company  F,  who  were  together  in  line.  Of  these,  Allen, 
Scott,  and  Bent  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded  ;  and  the 
writer  alone  escaped.  But  what  was  the  effect  of  the  death- 
dealing  volleys  on  the  progress  of  the  line  of  battle  ?  Did  it 
run?  Did  it  break?  Did  it  waver?  It  did  not  even  halt. 
There  were  some  cowards  who  were  glad  of  the  opportunity  to 
get  out  of  danger  by  stopping  to  help  the  wounded,  when  they 
knew  there  we.re  ample  details  for  this  purpose.  There  were  a 
few  who  skulked  back  without  as  much  as  this  decent  pretext : 
they  wandered  about,  well  out  of  danger,  until  the  shooting  was 
over,  and  then  turned  up  smiling,  ready  to  arrogate  to  them- 


212  FOURTEENTH    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

selves  their  full  share  of  the  credit  for  the  day's  achievements. 
Yet  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  regiment  in  that  grand  army  was 
disgraced  by  a  smaller  number  of  skulkers  than  was  the  Four 
teenth. 

The  line  moved  on  with  a  momentum  which  the  accurate 
and  effective  fire  of  the  enemy  seemed  not  even  to  check.     It 
was  near  to  the  second   belt  of  woods ;  the    first   brigade  of 
Grover's  division  had  swept  on,  entirely  beyond  the  front  of 
the  remainder  of  the  army.     It  is  said  that  the  order  to  halt 
was  issued,  but  the  men  never  received  it.     Col.  Gardiner  was 
on  foot,  fifty  feet   in  the  rear  of  his  regiment;    Hadley,  the 
splendid  young  commander  of  F,  fell,  ahead  of  the  line,  with  a 
fearful  wound  in  the  face ;  Stone,  a  fine  and  promising  young 
officer,   was  slain:  yet  the  Fourteenth  never  faltered  in  the 
charge.     And  now  the  boys  began  to  feel  the  thrill,  the  enthu 
siasm,  the  exultation,  of  battle.     Those  who  had  escaped,  and 
kept  in  their  place,  had  passed  the  period  of  fear ;  and  the  wild 
intoxication  of  a  great  contest  was  nerving  them  on.     Before 
the  woods  mentioned  were  reached,  the  men  cheered,  and  rushed 
on  at  a  faster  pace.     An  unprejudiced  observer,  Major  Gould, 
of    another  division,  the  historian   of   the  Twenty-ninth  Me., 
thus  refers  to  this  feat :  "  Grover's  first  line  had  charged  with  a 
fury  that  nothing  could  withstand ;  but,  being  unsupported,  it 
was  out-flanked.     It  seems  incredible  that  Grover  could  have 
worked  ahead  of  us  so  far,  in  the  very  short  time  that  he  had 
been  out  of  our  sight."     Up  to  this  time,  the  battalion  formation 
had  been  fairly  well  preserved  ;  but,  as  the  woods  were  entered, 
the  line  was  disarranged,  the  right  and  the  left  spreading  apart. 
In    this   timber-belt,  three   hundred  and  fifty  yards  wide,  oc 
curred  the  most  desperate  fighting  of  the  day,  some  of  it  hand- 
to-hand. 

The  breaking-up  of  the  line  just  alluded  to  was  caused  by 
the  terrible  flanking  fire  from  Fitz  Lee's  battery,  stationed  on 
an  eminence  across  the  Red  Bud,  not  over  six  hundred  yards 
away.  The  shells  came  screaming  through  the  trees,  lopping 
off  branches,  crippling  the  line,  and  destroying  organization. 
A  battery  firing  shells  into  a  body  of  men  is  not  only  a  mur- 


*£  f>, 


*/*. 


.XO    EJ^&WAFTHftfTTZf 

^        F-TAYLOR ~" 


.. 

II. 40  A.M. 
4.30P.M 
5  RH 


OPEQUON. 


DESPERATE  FIGHTING.  213 

derous,  it  is  a  demoralizing,  agency.  The  segregated  line  ad 
vanced  with  considerable  celerity  through  the  woods,  the  Rebel 
line  being  forced  back  in  confusion.  A  single  Union  brigade 
had  been  hurled,  like  a  thunderbolt,  against  two  of  the  finest 
Southern  divisions.  The  ground  was  won ;  but  it  could  not  be 
held  alone,  by  a  line  so  terribly  cut  to  pieces.  Several  prison 
ers  were  here  taken  by  the  Fourteenth ;  and  many  of  the  men 
fought  like  demons,  Sergt.  Coombs  of  C  being  conspicuous. 
The  officers  attempted  to  re-form  the  men,  straighten  the  line, 
and  halt  it ;  but  the  men  did  not  stop,  pressing  on  through  the 
woods,  and  down  the  slope  into  the  opening  beyond.  There 
were  so  few  who  reached  this  advanced  and  extremely  perilous 
position  that  the  advance  was  stopped ;  and  the  charge,  which 
had  extended  for  a  mile  and  a  hundred  yards,  there  termi 
nated.  The  little  handful  of  men  remained  there  for  about 
five  minutes,  firing  rapidly  at  the  enemy ;  H.  H.  Howe,  of  F, 
being  the  most  advanced  man  of  the  Fourteenth  who  was  ob 
served  by  the  writer.  Again  the  Rebel  fire  grew  brisk.  Web 
ster,  true  as  steel,  was  fatally  wounded.  Fiske,  universally  be 
loved,  fell  just  before  the  retreat.  The  men  waited  for  orders. 
One  came  to  retreat ;  but,  when  the  men  started  to  fall  back, 
other  officers  endeavored  to  hold  them  up  to  the  work. 

Capt.  Ira  Berry  was  cool,  determined,  and  conspicuous,  in 
the  very  front.  He  was  badly  wounded,  and  was  captured  by 
the  enemy.  While  advancing  through  the  second  woods,  he 
was  a  full  rod  ahead  of  his  company.  Observing  the  left  of 
the  regiment  breaking  up,  and  confusion  spreading  on  the  right, 
and  not  hearing  the  order  to  retreat,  he  turned  and  commanded : 
"  Company  H,  stand  fast!  "  —  and  Company  H  stood  as  steady 
as  on  dress-parade.  Lieut.  Holmes  then  communicated  to  the 
captain  the  order  to  retreat :  it  was  given,  and  back  the  com 
pany  went  at  a  lively  gait. 

Lieut.  Sargent  fought  like  a  tiger,  with  perfect  recklessness. 
He  seemed  to  take  no  account  of  Rebel  bullets.  Hurrying  from 
point  to  point,  he  did  his  best  to  maintain  the  ground.  He  was 
one  of  the  last  to  retreat,  was  severely  wounded,  and  taken 
prisoner. 


214  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

When  the  war  began  Capt.  Berry  was  a  member  of  the  Gulf- 
City  Guards,  of  Mobile,  Ala. ;  and,  when  that  organization 
entered  the  Rebel  service,  he  declined  to  go.  He  was,  however, 
for  several  months  under  Confederate  pay  in  Mobile  Harbor. 
As  soon  as  practicable  he  came  North.  It  was  a  remarkable 
coincidence  that  his  old  company  should  be  the  one  to  capture 
him.  One  of  his  former  comrades  rolled  him  over,  supposing 
him  dead,  to  unbuckle  and  appropriate  his  sword.  When  the 
captain  found  strength  to  rise,  he  was  taken  to  the  rear  by  his 
Mobile  companions,  who,  happily,  did  not  recognize  him.  When 
he  reached  the  heights  occupied  by  the  Rebels  in  their  last  posi 
tion,  he  found  himself  with  Lieut.  Sargent ;  and  they  planned  to 
escape  from  their  guards.  It  was  decided  that  Capt.  Berry 
should  faint ;  which  he  did,  apparently,  and  Lieut.  Sargent  min 
istered  to  him.  The  impatient  guards  waited  through  one  faint 
ing  spell,  but  could  not  stand  a  second ;  and  went  on,  leaving 
the  prisoners,  who  were  still  in  the  Rebel  line,  and  persistently 
prevented  from  going  to  the  rear  by  a  cordon  of  provost-guards, 
set  to  stop  the  timid  Johnnies  from  running  away. 

Twice  a  Rebel  soldier  tried  to  get  the  lieutenant's  rubber 
blanket,  once  firing  a  shot  which  was  evidently  intended  to  fin 
ish  him.  The  shot  took  effect,  but  it  went  through  Capt. 
Berry's  arm.  The  second  attsmpt  was  a  success,  the  lieuten 
ant  being  jerked  to  the  ground,  and  his  blanket  taken.  Soon 
afterward  Lieut.  Sargent  made  a  dash,  and  ran  —  into  captiv 
ity  ;  while  Capt.  Berry  presently  coaxed  a  mere  boy  among 
the  provost-guard  to  take  him,  as  a  prisoner,  to  the  rear.  This 
boy  had  been  a  prisoner,  and  had  received  kind  treatment  from 
Union  soldiers :  so  that,  when  a  Rebel  cavalryman  came  up  and 
proposed  to  rob  the  captain  of  his  jacket  by  force,  the  faithful 
young  guard  plainly  informed  him  that  he  would  get  a  bullet 
through  him  if  he  persisted  in  robbing  his  prisoner.  The 
mounted  Rebel  hero  desisted. 

Capt.  Berry  was  taken  to  the  Taylor  House  Rebel  Hospi 
tal  in  Winchester,  and,  watching  his  opportunity,  lay  down 
between  two  wounded  Rebels  in  the  operating-room.  Before 
long  the  Rebel  surgeons  put  on  their  coats  in  a  hurry ;  there 


THE   GREAT  REPULSE.  215 

was  a  surging  through  the  town :  the  Johnnies  were  out  and 
the  Yanks  were  in ;  and,  after  the  strange  vicissitudes  of  an 
eventful  day,  the  wounded  captain  was  among  his  friends,  and 
under  the  old  flag. 

The  first  brigade  was  cut  to  pieces ;  it  had  melted  away. 
There  were  three  reasons  for  this  great  disaster  which  led 
almost  to  irretrievable  defeat.  The  first  has  already  been  de 
lineated.  The  second  is  found  in  the  break  which  began  on 
the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  extending  to  the  left  of  the  Nine 
teenth,  enabling  a  portion  of  Rodes's  division  to  turn  the  flank 
of  the  latter.  The  third  and  unsavory  reason  for  the  repulse 
of  the  first  line  of  Grover's  division  was  that  the  second  line 
entirely  failed  to  support  it.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
right  of  the  second  line  was  held  by  the  fourth  brigade,  made 
up  mostly  of  Indiana  troops  unsurpassed  for  —  yelling.  This 
brigade  was  handled  in  a  most  incompetent  manner.  It  ad 
vanced  through  the  first  woods,  found  the  first  line  was  engaged 
in  a  fierce  conflict,  fired  one  volley,  turned,  and  ran.  They 
hardly  got  under  fire  at  all.  This  brigade  had  been  transferred 
from  the  Thirteenth  Corps,  in  Louisiana  ;  and  certainly  it  failed 
grossly  in  the  moment  of  need.  The  Ninth  Conn.,  an  Irish 
regiment,  was  detached  from  the  first  brigade  to  act  as  a  flank 
ing  force,  and  should  have  silenced  Fitz  Lee's  battery.  It  got 
lost  (?)  so  safely,  in  the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  line,  that  not 
a  man  was  hit  during  the  day ;  and  it  remained  there  until  the 
battle  was  over.  That  regiment  never  rejoined  the  brigade 
until  the  army  was  in  Harrisonburg,  and  then  it  was  ordered 
to  march  in  the  rear. 

It  was  fatally  hot  for  the  Fourteenth  as  it  emerged  from  the 
woods  on  its  retreat  over  the  open  field.  Just  at  the  edge  of 
the  woods  Orderly-Sergt.  Felch  fell.  Our  accomplished  and 
heroic  Col.  Gardiner  was  last  seen  marching  to  the  rear  slowly, 
with  sword  lying  across  his  left  arm,  calling  upon  his  men  to 
halt.  He  was  shot  about  one-third  of  the  way  back  from  the 
second  woods,  while  rallying  his  men.  The  charge  and  repulse 
of  the  first  brigade  is  described  by  the  Rebel  commander,  and  is 


216  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

of  sufficient  interest  to  warrant  it  a  place  here.  He  concedes 
the  damage  inflicted  by  the  onslaught  in  which  the  Fourteenth 
bore  so  prominent  a  part. 

"  The  only  chance  for  us  was  to  hurl  Rodes  and  Gordon  upon 
the  flank  of  the  advancing  column.  They  advanced  through 
the  woods  in  most  gallant  style,  and  attacked  in  the  open  field 
[it  appears  that  the  right  of  the  Union,  and  the  left  of  the  Rebel, 
line  made  a  simultaneous  attack],  opening  a  destructive  fire. 
But  Evans's  brigade  of  Gordon's  division,  which  was  on  the 
extreme  left  of  our  infantry,  received  a  check  from  a  column 
of  the  enemy,  and  was  forced  back  through  the  woods  from  be 
hind  which  it  had  advanced ;  the  enemy  following  to  the  very 
rear  of  the  woods,  and  to  within  musket-range  of  seven  pieces 
of  Braxton's  artillery,  which  were  without  support.  This 
caused  a  pause  in  our  advance,  and  the  position  was  most  criti-- 
cal ;  for  it  was  apparent  that  unless  this  force  was  driven  back 
the  day  was  lost.  Braxton's  guns,  in  which  now  was  our  only 
hope,  resolutely  stood  their  ground,  and  opened  with  canister 
on  the  enemy.  This  fire  was  so  rapid  and  well  directed  that 
the  enemy  staggered,  halted,  and  commenced  falling  back,  leav 
ing  a  battle-flag  on  the  ground,  whose  bearer  was  cut  to  pieces 
by  a  canister  shot.  Just  then  Battle's  brigade  of  Rodes's  divis 
ion  arrived,  moved  forward,  and  swept  through  the  woods, 
driving  the  enemy  before  it ;  while  Evans's  brigade  was  rallied, 
and  brought  back  to  the  charge.  Our  advance  was  resumed, 
and  the  enemy's  attacking  columns  were  thrown  into  great 
confusion,  and  driven  from  the  field." 

It  was  the  wild  hope  of  Early  to  follow  up  the  first  repulse 
of  the  Union  right,  and  gain  possession  of  the  gorge  or  canon, 
thus  cutting  off  Sheridan's  retreat;  but  the  Rebel  counter 
charge  never  got  beyond  the  centre  of  that  disputed  field. 
The  One  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  N.  Y.,  one  of  the  noblest 
battalions  in  the  whole  Union  army,  advanced,  endured  with 
not  a  flinch  the  rabble  run  of  the  fourth  brigade,  and,  with  the 
two  pieces  of  artillery  posted  by  Emory,  filled  the  perilous  gap. 
While  the  Union  line  was  thus  being  precariously  established, 
not  much  in  advance  of  its  position  at  11.40,  that  of  the  enemy 


TRUE  AS  STEEL.  217 

was  not  advanced,  but  rather  retired  somewhat,  though  strength 
ened.  The  fragments  of  the  Fourteenth  were  easily  rallied,  a 
majority  of  the  men  retreating  no  farther  than  necessary. 
Orderly-Sergt.  Goodwin  at  once  gathered  a  squad,  and  faced 
them  about,  holding  them  well  to  the  front.  Other  officers  did 
the  same.  In  the  retreat  most  of  the  regiment  bore  to  the  left : 
so  that,  when  re-formed,  it  was  in  the  first  woods,  somewhat  to 
the  right,  and  nearly  seven  hundred  yards  in  front  of  its  posi 
tion  before  the  charge.  The  Fourteenth  Regiment  New-Hamp 
shire  Volunteers  had  gone 

"  Down  into  the  jaws  of  death, 
Down  into  the  gates  of  hell." 

It  had  been  tried  so  as  by  fire :  and  in  that  terrible  ordeal  it 
did  not  waver  ;  it  did  not  shrink ;  it  did  not  fail  in  one  iota  of 
doing  all  that  brave  men,  all  that  a  well-trained  battalion,  could 
do  under  the  circumstances.  It  obeyed  every  order  with  alac 
rity.  Its  officers  were  nobly  daring,  and  its  men  showed  the 
same  metal.  The  Fourteenth  shed  a  fearful  measure  of  precious 
blood  in  that  onset ;  and,  while  its  flag  was  riddled  by  balls,  it 
was  not  for  a  moment  sullied,  but  was  borne  aloft  in  that 
charge,  and  throughout  the  day,  a  lustrous  symbol  of  the  cause 
and  its  success. 

It  was  about  one  o'clock,  and  the  state  of  affairs  with  Sheri 
dan  was,  that  an  advance  had  been  made  on  his  whole  front, 
with  a  decided  success  on  the  right,  followed  by  a  set-back  all 
along  the  line,  and  a  damaging  repulse  at  a  critical  point  in  his 
centre.  In  half  an  hour,  or  at  1.30  P.M.,  the  emergency  was 
passed ;  and  the  Union  army  showed  a  good  front  to  the  over- 
exultant  Johnnies.  Early  says  of  the  battle  at  that  hour,  "  A 
splendid  victory  had  been  gained ; "  and,  while  that  boast  was 
as  false  as  many  other  of  his  declarations,  it  was  true,  that, 
up  to  the  time  mentioned,  the  balance  of  success  lay  with  the 
enemy.  But  "  Little  Phil "  had  not  at  that  hour  begun  to  un 
fold  his  strategy.  That  battle  was  a  piece  of  military  calcula 
tion,  and  Sheridan  was  right  in  the  midst  of  his  figuring  when 
Early  went  into  glorifications  over  a  victory  won.  The  Rebel 


218  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

hero  had  only  succeeded  in  badly  mixing  up  the  Union  com 
mander's  figures.  The  problem  was  working :  it  would  be 
solved.  There  was  a  general  lull  in  the  contest ;  and  regiments 
re-formed,  gathered  in  stragglers,  perfected  alignments,  rested, 
and  ate  —  where  there  was  any  thing  left  to  eat. 

Some  incidents  of  the  first  tremendous  onset  must  not  be  lost. 
When  the  first  line  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  had  advanced  be 
yond  the  anticipated  point  of  establishing  and  holding  a  position, 
and  had  acquired  a  momentum  which  little  short  of  annihilation 
could  check,  a  staff-officer  rode  to  the  front,  and  endeavored  to 
correct  the  blunder.  His  shouts  and  his  vehement  gesticula 
tions  were  alike  unheeded.  t  last  he  appeared  to  grow  des 
perate."  He  exposed  himself  recklessly,  putting  forth  almost 
superhuman  efforts  to  halt  the  line.  Finally,  he  turned  his 
horse's  head  toward  the  enemy,  rose  to  full  height  in  his  stir 
rups,  swung  his  sword  high  in  air,  and  flung  it  away  toward  the 
Rebel  line.  He  then  coolly  dismounted,  walked  slowly  out, 
and  picked  up  his  weapon,  and,  then  very  deliberately  left  that 
part  of  the  field. 

Some  of  the  men,  when  struck,  shrieked  with  fear  and  pain ; 
while  most  of  them  uttered  but  a  groan,  or  were  silent.  There 
were  many  surprises  on  that  field.  The  wisest  ones  in  camp 
were  not  always  the  truest  ones  in  the  crucial  hour ;  and  some 
also  who  were  lightly  valued  in  the  previous  months  performed 
such  deeds  as  are  ascribed  to  heroes.  There  was  Blodgett  of  F, 
a  stout,  clumsy  man,  too  old,  as  we  supposed,  to  be  in  the  ser 
vice  at  all ;  who  was  always  a  little  behind  on  the  march,  and 
just  too  late  in  every  evolution  and  movement  of  the  manual. 
Yet  on  the  field  of  the  Opequan  he  displayed  some  of  the  best 
qualities  of  a  warrior.  He  proved  entirely  insensible  to  fear ; 
and  his  drill  was  driven  into  him  —  as  nails  into  a  white  oak 
post  —  to  stay.  It  was  like  him  to  "load  in  nine  times"  at 
every  round  in  the  very  whirlwind  and  fury  of  battle.  What 
if  he  did  find  eleven  charges  in  his  musket  after  the  battle,  in 
dicating  that  he  did  not  know  whether  or  not  his  piece  was 
discharged  when  he  pointed  it  at  the  foe  ?  He  did  what  it  is 
safe  to  affirm  no  other  soldier  in  that  army  did.  When  his  rifle 


INCIDENTS   OF   THE  BATTLE.  219 

became  disabled  by  a  Rebel  shot,  he  sat  down  upon  the  ground, 
under  a  heavy  fire,  took  his  gun  to  pieces,  and,  from  another 
musket  lying  near  by,  replaced  the  broken  part,  and  then 
trudged  back  to  find  his  regiment. 

Of  the  raw  recruits  reaching  the  regiment  just  before  the 
battle,  sixteen  had  been  assigned  to  Company  H ;  and  during 
the  first  charge  Capt.  Berry  was  occupied,  aside  from  the  usual 
onerous  duties  of  a  company  commander  in  battle,  in  keeping 
them  in  line  and  up  to  the  work.  One  of  them  persisted  in 
firing  toward  the  sky  every  time,  and  finally  the  captain  stopped, 
and  drilled  him  until  he  would  fire  toward  the  enemy. 

Coming  from  one  who  was  in  the  ranks,  it  is  not  out  of  place 
to  here  record,  that  the  officers  of  the  Fourteenth,  as  a  rule, 
behaved  with  conspicuous  heroism.  In  the  first,  and  so  notably 
fatal,  onset,  they  crowned  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  with  imper 
ishable  honor.  And  those  who  died  in  the  ranks  stood  in  their 
lot  equally  well.  The  wonderful  pluck  displayed  found  good 
illustration  in  the  case  of  Lieut.  Colburn,  who,  suffering  from  a 
fatal  wound  in  the  abdomen,  still,  with  his  characteristic  grit, 
worked  his  way  back  on  foot,  alone,  to  lie  down  and  die  that 
night. 

In  the  long  array  of  the  wounded  at  night,  musician  J.  S. 
Doolittle,  of  the  band,  had  for  his  bunk-mate  Corpl.  Tasker  of 
Company  I,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  as  the  event  proved, 
although  neither  supposed  such  to  be  the  case.  His  leg  had 
been  amputated,  and  he  was  laid  in  the  bunk,  apparently  doing 
well.  His  comrade  Doolittle  spoke  cheering  words,  and  the 
prospective  cork-leg  was  discussed.  Then  they  bade  each  other 
good-night,  and  both  fell  asleep  it  is  supposed.  During  the 
night  his  companion  became  chilled,  woke,  and  spoke  several 
times  to  the  wounded  corporal ;  but  no  response.  Then  the 
hand  was  reached  out,  and  laid  upon  the  face ;  and  it  was  cold 
in  death.  Corpl.  Tasker  had  been  dead  for  several  hours. 

Another  instance  of  the  cheerful  endurance  of  the  death- 
stroke  is  given  by  Lieut.  Hadley.  A  group  of  wounded  officers 
from  the  Fourteenth  lay  in  the  field  hospital  at  the  rear.  Lieut. 
Stone's  back  was  shattered  by  a  shell,  his  legs  were  paralyzed, 


220  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

he  could  not  move  ;  he  was  going  down  into  the  dark  valley : 
yet  he  was  cheerful,  and  even  indulged  in  pleasantries.  He 
addressed  Lieut.  Hadley,  saying  he  wished  he  had  his  legs ;  the 
latter,  whose  jaw  was  broken,  retorting  that  he  wished  he  had 
Lieut.  Stone's  jaws. 

Lieut.  Hadley  expresses  the  feeling  of  the  wounded  group 
from  the  Fourteenth :  "  We  forgot  our  sufferings  when  we  heard 
the  cheer  of  victory  come  back  to  us  from  the  Union  lines." 

Still  another  instance  of  clear  grit  was  manifested  in  the 
middle  of  the  second  woods,  after  the  retreat,  where  Capt. 
Berry  and  Lieut.  Fiske  lay  wounded.  The  latter  informed  the 
captain  that  he  had  got  his  death-wound ;  yet  he  set  himself  to 
the  task  of  stopping  the  cowardly  shrieking  of  a  soldier  near  by 
who  was  wounded,  but  not  dangerously,  in  the  leg. 

In  contrast  with  this  heroic  fortitude  and  abnegation  is  the 
grossest  instance  of  dead-beat  faithlessness  we  ever  saw  recorded 
of  a  battle-field.  During  the  first  part  of  the  battle,  two  things 
in  Union  uniforms  were  observed  playing  a  queer  trick.  One 
of  them  laid  himself  on  the  ground,  while  the  other  carefully 
shot  him  through  the  calf  of  the  leg.  They  then  exchanged 
places,  and  marksman  No.  1  got  a  Minie-ball  put  through  his 
calf.  There  was  no  danger  in  the  operation ;  and  it  was  a  good 
passport  for  several  months  in  hospital,  no  duty,  and  an  easy 
life.  The  turmoil  of  the  fight  prevented  their  exposure. 

Dr.  Perkins  was  evidently  not  a  man  of  fear,  nor  a  surgeon 
who  was  .most  active  at  the  rear.  An  officer  saw  him  falling 
back  in  the  general  retreat,  carefully  bringing  a  musket.  The 
doctor  was  quizzed  for  his  conduct,  and  reluctantly  abandoned 
his  weapon,  carefully  setting  it  up  against  a  tree. 

Gen.  Emory  was  observed,  immediately  after  the  retreat,  well 
up  to  the  front,  and  under  fire,  doing  all  in  his  power  to  restore 
order  and  confidence  ;  and,  after  the  lines  were  restored,  he  rode 
slowly  along  the  entire  front,  well  out  toward  the  enemy,  on  the 
familiar  yellow  horse.  Gen.  Grover  would  not  ride  his  splendid 
charger  into  the  fight,  but  mounted  an  inferior  animal  for  the 
occasion. 

When  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was  hurled  back,  and  the  army 


THE  LOST  COLORS.  221 

in  its  greatest  peril,  Gen.  Emory  called  to  a  color-sergeant,  and 
said:  "  Here,  give  me  those  colors;  I  will  lead  you  myself!" 
The  color-sergeant  shook  his  head,  and  did  not  yield  the  pre 
cious  standard. 

When  the  shattered  fragments  of  the  Fourteenth  were  again 
assembled  in  the  position  heretofore  described,  there  was  humil 
iation  and  sorrow.    The  regiment  had  no  colors.    No  one  could 
account   for    either   of  the   standards.      The    Fourteenth    was 
bereaved   indeed.      It   was    almost   literally   decimated   in   its 
killed,  and  nearly  a  fifth  of  its  number  wounded.     To  intensify 
the  infliction,  it  mustered  without  colors.     Were  they  in   the 
hands  of  the  enemy  ?     Had  the  bearers  been  tried,  and  found 
wanting?     It    was   known  that   the  bearer  of  the  State   flag, 
Corpl.  Sherburn  Page,  had  been  shot  dead  with  the  flag  in  his 
hand ;  Corpl.  Hazen  had  taken  it,  and  was  also  killed :  beyond 
that,  nothing  was  known  of  either  flag  or  its  bearer.    Let  us  see. 
As  the  writer,  after  the  great  repulse,  had  nearly  reached  the 
woods,  through  which  the  regiment  had  moved  to  the  charge, 
he  overtook  Sergt.  Howard,  with  his  United-States  colors.     He 
had  carried   his  flag   into   the   thickest   of  the   fight,  became 
isolated,  his  guard  being  nearly  all  killed  or  wounded,  —  him 
self  untouched,  —  and  he  had  brought  off  his  precious  charge. 
He  was  entirely  alone,  having  retraced  the  ground  passed  over 
by  the  regiment,  while  it  had,  in  again  confronting  the  enemy, 
formed  to  one  side,  as  previously  stated.     A  conference  ensued 
as  to  the  course  to  be  pursued.     It  was  decided  not  to  attempt 
the  unprofitable  task  of  searching  for  the  regiment  in  the  face 
of  an  advancing  foe.    It  was  determined  to  attach  the  colors  of 
the  Fourteenth  to  the  first  regiment  at  hand,  and  keep  them  in 
the  front  line  of  the  battle.     At  that  moment  the  sergeant's 
heart  was  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  the  State  flag  approaching, 
borne  by  E.  F.  Fuller  of  Company  C,  who  had  rescued  it,  ac 
companied  by  Corpl.  Baldwin,  and  H.  A.  Wood,  both  of  Com 
pany  F.     They  both  gallantly  stuck  to  the  colors  throughout 
the  afternoon,  exposing  themselves  fearlessly. 

It  so  happened  that  while  the  regiment  was   resting  safely 


222  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

from  1  to  4.30  o'clock,  its  colors  were  under  a  constant  fire  in 
the  very  front  of  the  battle.  And  thus  it  came  about.  The 
decision  above  alluded  to  led  us  further  to  the  left  of  the  line, 
in  the  opposite  direction  from  the  Fourteenth,  and  into  a  fresh 
regiment  which  was  just  being  pressed  forward  to  confront  the 
enemy.  Moving  by  the  left  flank  about  three  hundred  yards, 
we  came  to  the  Eighth  Vt.,  second  brigade,  first  division,  of 
the  Nineteenth  Corps.  The  situation  was  explained  to  Col. 
Thomas,  commanding,  and  he  heartily  welcomed  another  set  of 
colors  and  its  little  guard  of  three,  all  from  one  company.  Soon 
after  the  Fourteenth  colors  were  united  to  the  Eighth,  it  ad 
vanced  into  that  field  of  death  several  hundred  yards  to  the  left 
of  the  path  which  the  Fourteenth  had  marked  with  its  blood 
an  hour  before.  The  whole  brigade  had  moved  out  from  cover, 
and  was  at  once  under  fire.  A  dash  of  a  few  rods,  and  the  line 
lay  down.  Col.  Thomas,  while  exceedingly  careful  of  his  men, 
would  not  himself  dismount.  In  about  ten  minutes  another 
dash,  and  then  flat  on  their  faces,  the  line  escaped  the  volleys 
that  poured  in.  A  third  rush  ahead  took  the  Eighth  half-way 
across  the  field,  the  line  being  continued  to  right  and  left  by 
other  regiments  coming  up.  This  was  the  line  which  Sheridan 
intended  Grover  to  gain  and  hold,  at  first.  Here  the  Eighth 
and  the  Fourteenth  colors  remained  until  four  o'clock,  con 
stantly  under  fire,  but  not  severe ;  though  the  colors  were 
several  tiines  shot  through,  and  men  all  about  were  constantly 
being  struck. 

As  illustrative  of  the  triumph  over  fear  which  men  may 
secure,  we  cite  the  Company  F  man  who  got  permission  of 
Sergt.  Howard,  while  the  line  lay  there  so  long,  to  hunt  up  a 
haversack,  his  own  having  been  shot  off.  He  went  roaming 
about  the  field  among  the  dead  bodies,  the  bullets  zip-zip-ing 
about  him,  looking  for  an  abandoned  haversack. 

From  1.30  until  nearly  4  the  fighting  along  the  whole  line 
consisted  of  skirmish-firing.  At  two  o'clock  Early  was  re- 
enforced  by  Breckinridge  and  Wharton,  who  got  up  from  Ste- 
phenson's  Station.  Sheridan  had  reserved  Crook  in  the  rear, 
intending  to  put  him  in  on  the  left ;  but  reports  kept  coming  in 


THE   GRAND  ADVANCE.  223 

that  Early  was  massing  troops  to  crush  our  right,  and  at  length 
Sheridan  felt  compelled  to  put  him  in  on  that  flank  to  act 
as  a  turning  column.  From  2.30  to  4  o'clock  Crook  was  mak 
ing  his  way  around  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  forming 
at  the  latter  hour  a  line  well  facing  the  enemy's  left  flank. 
Then  we,  who  were  with  the  colors,  heard  a  great  shout  far 
to  the  right.  The  battalion  was  on  its  feet  in  an  instant. 
"  Terrible  as  an  army  with  banners"  was  rarely  so  magnifi 
cently  exemplified.  For  more  than  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the 
right,  and  far  advanced  to  the  front  as  it  extended  away, — 
sweeping  round  the  enemy's  left  in  a  majestic  semicircle,  —  the 
Union  line  was  seen  advancing  with  a  strength  and  confidence 
which  manifestly  nothing  in  front  of  it  could  withstand.  When 
we  first  caught  the  view,  the  long  array  of  banners  was  just  in 
one  line  with  our  eyes,  and  the  spectacle  was  surpassingly  grand. 
Pressing  on  the  flank  was  Crook  ;  charging  steadily  to  the  front 
was  the  Nineteenth  Corps.  The  Eighth  Vt.  and  its  brigade 
were  eager  for  the  final  fray,  and  soon  Col.  Thomas  permitted 
them  to  go  in.  Bayonets  were  fixed,  and  with  a  whirl  the 
line  charged  up  to  the  fatal  second  woods ;  but  the  "  Steady, 
old  Vermont !  Steady,  old  Vermont !  "  sounding  so  calmly  from 
the  lips  of  the  gallant  colonel,  will  never  be  forgotten  by  the 
Fourteenth  temporary  color  contingent. 

The  Eighth  marched  through  the  woods,  but  encountering  a 
hot  fire,  and  the  men  beginning  to  fall  fast  about  the  colors, 
a  halt  was  ordered,  and  the  alignment  perfected.  It  was  soon 
manifest  that  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  position  of  the 
afternoon,  and  then  there  was  a  rapid  movement  forward  to 
again  confront  the  Rebel  host.  Soon  after  leaving  the  woods, 
and  while  marching  to  the  left,  we  descried  away  to  our  right 
the  Fourteenth  regiment  converging  upon  the  Eighth.  Col. 
Thomas  was  informed  that  he  must  fight  the  remainder  of  the 
day  without  four  flags ;  and  he  gave  us  a  parting  blessing,  with 
warm  compliments,  and  offers  of  any  recommendations  we  might 
desire.  Then  the  little  squad  —  in  as  good  spirits  as  any  five 
men  in  all  that  glorious  battle-field  —  marched  over  and  re 
stored  to  the  Fourteenth  its  lost  colors.  The  cheers  of  welcome 
were  proud  compensation  for  the  afternoon's  exposure. 


224  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

The  Fourteenth  advanced  by  the  right  flank,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Hall,  the  senior  officer  present.  For  some  time  after 
the  fall  of  Col.  Gardiner,  he  had  been  in  command  of  the 
regiment.  Solid  shot  were  flying  just  over  our  heads.  We 
marched  through  a  rut  in  a  stone  wall,  and  down  toward  lower 
ground ;  while  batteries  were  galloping  for  positions  back  of 
us,  unlimbering,  and  opening  fire  on  the  heights  beyond  and 
in  front  of  us,  —  the  enemy's  last  position.  The  infantry  formed 
an  L-shaped  line,  facing  the  Rebel  batteries,  the  Fourteenth 
forming  a  part  of  the  right  branch.  Then,  for  a  few  minutes,  a 
brilliant  artillery  duel  ensued,  the  shells  screeching  over  our 
heads,  in  both  directions.  But  what  is  that  terrible  commo 
tion  ?  that  hoarse  and  mixed  roar  of  battle  ?  There  is  confusion 
in  the  Rebel  redoubt.  Look !  then  see  the  sudden  spring  of 
the  prone  infantry !  Hear  that  strange,  wild,  exultant  shout, 
which  they  only  can  send  forth  who  have  fought  and  won. 
Away  to  the  right,  and  beyond  the  enemy's  rear,  flashes  to  us  a 
spectacle  vivid  in  its  glory,  because  novel  to  the  Fourteenth, 
and  peculiar  on  any  field.  We  caught  the  flashing  of  their 
sabres,  as  Averill  and  Merritt  and  Ouster  drove  the  enemy  from 
their  guns  like  a  flock  of  sheep.  The  infantry  moved  on  the 
heights,  in  line  of  battle,  the  Rebel  prisoners  by  hundreds  flock 
ing  through,  between  the  Union  battalions.  The  day  was  won, 
the  Rebel  army  "  sent  whirling  through  Winchester."  By  bri 
gades  and  battalions  the  Union  army  moved  by  the  right  flank 
over  the  ground  last  held  by  the  enemy,  and  on,  into,  and 
through  Winchester.  We  passed  Rebel  dead  and  wounded, 
with  here  and  there  a  blue-coat  lying  in  sad  contrast  with  the 
gray.  It  was  six  o'clock,  and  a  day's  work  for  the  Union  was 
done. 


A   STAFF-OFFICER'S  STORY.  225 

ANOTHER   ACCOUNT. 

The  following  is  taken  from  an  account  of  the  battle  written 
by  Lieut.  Carroll  D.  Wright,  afterwards  colonel  of  the  Four 
teenth,  who  was  at  that  time  A.A.A.G.  on  the  brigade-staff. 

At  two  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September, 
the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps  abandoned  their  intrenched 
camps  in  front  of  Berryville,  and  moved  out  toward  Winches 
ter.  The  muffled  roar  of  artillery  was  heard  at  intervals 
during  the  morning,  caused  by  the  shelling  of  the  advanced 
cavalry  skirmishers.  It  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  early- 
autumn  days :  the  air  was  cool  and  mellow,  the  sun  shed  a  tem 
pered  warmth,  and  the  whole  face  of  nature  smiled  in  the 
harvest-time.  Carelessly  and  unconsciously,  with  laugh  and 
jest,  our  boys  marched  on  to  the  harvest  of  death  and  mutila 
tion  ;  soon,  however,  meeting  wounded  cavalry  skirmishers  be 
ing  borne  to  the  rear,  —  a  sight  to  silence  song  and  laughter. 

Grover's  four  brigades  were  seen  to  pass  through  a  gorge, 
cross  a  creek,  and  disappear  in  the  hollows  beyond ;  the  men 
swinging  along  at  the  usual  jaunty  route-step,  but  with  silent, 
determined  countenances.  At  eleven  o'clock  both  corps  had 
completed  their  dispositions,  —  the  long  lines  of  the  Sixth 
reaching  east  from  Opequan  Creek ;  while  the  Nineteenth  occu 
pied  the  ground  to  the  right,  but  with  a  wide  space  intervening. 
The  divisions  were  generally  disposed  in  two  parallel  lines,  a 
little  distance  apart.  In  front  of  our  lines  was  a  belt  of  forest ; 
and,  beyond,  an  uneven  field ;  and,  still  farther,  another  belt  of 
wood,  in  which  was  posted  the  Rebel  infantry,  supporting  bat 
teries  on  elevations  in  the  rear. 

It  was  nearly  high-noon  when  the  bugles  sounded  the  grand 
advance.  The  old,  but  infinitely  beautiful,  panorama  of  all 
battle-fields,  made  still  more  impressive  by  the  natural  aspects 
of  this  most  lovely  of  valleys,  was  spread  before  and  around. 
Away  to  the  bases  of  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Cumberland 
faded  stretches  of  forest,  and  fields  dotted  by  dwellings,  spar 
kling  with  streams,  and  glowing  with  the  kisses  of  approaching 


226  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

autumn.  Nearer,  could  be  seen  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  ;  and, 
still  nearer,  the  splendid  marching  columns  of  our  own  infan 
try  ;  while  the  sharpshooters  and  skirmishers  of  both  lines 
specked  the  intervening  space,  so  soon  to  be  the  theatre  of 
deadly  conflict. 

Our  artillery  opened  heavily,  answered  by  the  boom  of  the 
Rebel  guns.  Our  forces  advanced  through  the  first  wood,  upon 
the  open  field,  giving  their  fire  to  the  enemy.  For  a  few  sec 
onds  the  gleaming  muskets  vibrated  before  they  entered  the 
timber  filled  with  Rebels,  and  then  were  lost  in  the  shadows 
and  smoke.  The  roar  of  the  battle,  as  the  two  lines  fairly 
met,  sounding  in  a  thunderous  burst  of  volleys,  pealed  up  from 
that  wood ;  and  smoke  and  flame  streamed  out  in  a  long  line, 
as  though  the  whole  forest  had  been  suddenly  ignited.  The 
conflict  was  as  fierce  as  the  fiercest  battle  fought  by  Grant,  from 
the  Rapidan  to  Petersburg.  The  determination  to  win  the  bat 
tle,  which  seemed  to  inspire  every  man  in  our  army,  urged 
Birge's  brigade  of  Grover's  division  so  impetuously  as  almost 
to  isolate  it  from  the  corps ;  while  the  whole  front  line  of  the 
division  charged  furiously  through  the  wood  — 

"  Into  the  jaws  of  death, 
Into  the  mouth  of  hell." 

There  was  a  brief  and  desperate  encounter,  a  crossing  of 
bayonets,  and  an  incessant  crash  of  rifles ;  and  then  that  old 
second  division,  which  marched  so  gayly  over  the  mountains, 
was  hurled  back  into  the  clearing,  stunned,  mangled,  and  shat 
tered,  emerging  from  the  deadly  grasp  of  the  whole  left  wing 
of  Early's  army.  .  .  . 

The  Rebel  advance  was  an  advance  no  longer :  the  route  was 
turned.  Back,  over  the  fences  and  ravines,  and  into  the  woods 
beyond,  their  flying  and  broken  lines  were  pushed.  The  Eighth 
Corps  was  brought  in  on  the  right,  and  the  flanks  of  the  enemy 
were  forced  back,  while  his  centre  partially  gave  way.  Battery 
after  battery  of  the  enemy  was  silenced.  The  word  is  still 
"  Forward  !  "  along  three  miles  of  contest.  "  Forward  !  "  and 
you  shall  hear  it  from  the  lips  of  commanders  everywhere ; 


A    VIVID  PICTURE.  227 

from  generals  and  colonels  and  captains.     The  woods  ring  with 
it,  cheers  succeed  it,  and  the  lines  advance  anew. 

There  is  a  strange  fascination  in  a  scene  like  this,  which 
almost  tempts  one  to  suspend  duty,  and  look  around  him.  On 
your  right  and  left  men  go  down,  while  you  are  commending 
their  good  fighting,  and  urging  them  to  keep  up  to  the  work. 
They  fall  in  front  of  you,  —  some  lapsing  heavily  to  the  ground, 
stricken  with  instant  death ;  while  others  settle  slowly  down, 
and  limp  or  crawl  back  as  best  they  may.  It  is  a  scene  replete 
with  horrors,  and  ringing  with  unearthly  cries  and  noises. 

Still  on,  underneath  the  glowing  sun,  revived  by  fresh 
breezes,  revived  still  more  by  the  consciousness  of  victory,  the 
Army  of  the  Shenandoah  thunders  after  its  prey.  Yonder,  in 
an  orchard  011  the  left,  Getty's  division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  is 
making  havoc  among  its  enemies.  Far  to  the  right,  the  Army 
of  West  Virginia,  still  pressing  the  foe  with  resistless  ardor,  is 
revenging  the  former  defeat  at  Winchester.  Forward,  still  for 
ward,  cheering  and  firing,  till  Winchester  is  in  full  sight,  its 
roofs  and  steeples  glowing  red  in  the  setting  sun.  Our  artillery, 
borne  across  a  ravine  to  the  plateau,  and  across  the  plateau  to 
its  farthest  verge,  does  a  work  so  terrible,  that  to  witness  it  is 
sickening.  The  whole  Rebel  army,  swept  down  the  slope,  and 
on  to  the  plain  beyond,  is  completely  demoralized. 

The  sun,  alas !  rests  upon  the  horizon's  verge.  Across  that 
plain  before  Winchester,  its  beams  shine  upon  a  scene  rivalling 
in  picturesque  sublimity  all  historic  fields  of  most  heroic  wars. 
Vast  and  level  and  beautiful  for  miles,  the  field  itself,  unpeo 
pled,  would  be  full  of  romantic  interest.  Peopled  as  it  was  by 
thousands  of  Rebels,  shattered,  demoralized,  flying  ;  by  thousands 
of  pursuing  troops,  moving  in  well-ordered  battalions ;  resound 
ing  with  the  ring  of  musketry  and  boom  of  cannon,  surpassing 
the  roar  of  Austerlitz,— it  was  a  scene  I  cannot  hope  to  suggest 
to  any  imagination. 

Twilight  gathers,  darkness  falls,  and  the  only  signs  of  the 
army  met  and  conquered  during  the  day  are  the  echoes  of  its 
ammunition-wagons  rambling  along  the  pike  southward.  Dis 
cipline  and  organization  disappeared  from  their  forces ;  and  all 


228  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

night  long  the  routed  army  hurried  up  the  Valley  toward  Stras- 
burg,  intent  upon  the  refuge  of  Fisher's  Hill. 

The  camp-fires  springing  up  as  our  troops  bivouacked  for  the 
night  upon  the.  plain  had  each  its  group  of  earnest,  thoughtful 
men,  talking  and  thinking  of  the  events  of  the  day,  and  mourn 
ing  the  loss  of  some  loved  comrade.  At  distances  the  bands 
played  the  weary  veterans  to  sleep.  The  moon  arose,  shedding 
its  white  radiance  down  upon  the  slumbers  of  the  camp ;  upon 
the  sleepless  tortures  of  wounded  Southrons,  who  still  lay  un- 
cared  for  in  the  fields,  thinking  of  the  dear  ones  who  loved 
them  and  would  miss  them,  —  oh,  so  much  !  even  as  if  they  had 
worn  a  blue  uniform,  —  with  feelings  under  their  gray  jackets 
as  warm  as  our  own.1 


After  the  battle.  How  a  defeated  army  must  feel,  the  Four 
teenth  boys  have  no  means  of  knowing;  and  certainly  no  one 
save  an  actor  in  the  thrilling  drama  can  appreciate  the  experi 
ence  and  emotions  of  a  victorious  army  as  it  settles  down  to 
bivouac  after  the  march,  the  charge,  the  storm,  uproar,  carnage, 
and  triumph.  Just  as  darkness  was  spreading  its  merciful  pall 
over  the  dead,  and  shutting  out  the  horrors  of  the  day  from  the 
eyes  of  the  wounded,  on  the  field  of  the  Opequan,  the  Four 
teenth  Regiment  bivouacked  just  outside  and  south  of  Win 
chester,  to  the  right  of  the  Valley  pike,  on  the  border  of  a  small 
stream.  The  re-action  had  come.  The  hour  of  jubilation,  full 
of  glory  and  the  wild  intoxication  of  conquest,  had  claimed  its 
right,  and  must  now  give  place.  It  was  not  time  yet  to  recount 
deeds  of  heroism  ;  and  the  boaster  had  not  yet  come  up  from  the 
rear  to  cover  his  shame  by  inventions  either  of  acts  of  prowess, 
hair-breadth  escapes,  or  remarkable  ministrations  to  the  wound 
ed.  It  was  a  time  of  solemn  inquiry.  The  names  of  those 
known  to  be  dead  were  passed  sadly  and  reverently  from  mouth 
to  mouth.  The  regiment  had  passed  from  glorification  to  mem 
ory.  The  noble,  the  beloved  ones,  were  slain,  or  in  that  hour 

1  The  writer  is  indebted  to  a  description  of  this  battle  in  The  Galaxy  for  1807, 
for  certain  points. 


A    SAD  ROLL-CALL. 


229 


breathing  out  their  heroic  lives  on  the  field  just  won.  The 
regiment  was  fearfully  attenuated,  but  gradually  being  re-en 
forced  by  the  scattered,  the  stragglers,  and  those  who  had  been 
detailed  for  duty  with  the  wounded.  Each  incomer  was  anxious 
ly  questioned.  Some  were  reported  dead  with  great  positiveness 
who  received  no  scratch.  The  writer  listened,  unseen,  with 
peculiar  feelings  to  the  statement  of  a  comrade,  who  announced 
the  finding  of  his  dead  body  on  the  field. 

Could  any  who  questioned  the  essential  manliness  of  our 
Union  volunteers,  or  doubted  their  tenderness  of  heart  and 
absolute  loyalty  to  high  motives,  have  mingled  with  the  men 
during  that  evening  after  Opequan,  and  witnessed  the  genuine 
comradeship  and  close  fraternity  so  emphatically  displayed,  he 
would  have  gone  out  of  those  saddened  camps  with  a  higher 
estimate  of  the  country's  defenders. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  order  sounded  through  the  camp, 
"  Company  — ,  fall  in  for  roll-call ! "  The  familiar  summons 
was  received,  first  with  a  shudder,  and  then  with  tears.  It  was 
almost  cruel.  Never  before  had  we  heard  a  tremor  in  the  voice 
of  our  orderly-sergeant.  What  memories  are  stirred  in  the 
minds  of  the  survivors  as  the  names  on  that  company  roll  troop 
before  us  in  their  long  alphabetical  array.  On  that  night  the 
call  was  mournful  beyond  expression ;  and,  as  some  friend  an 
swered,  "Dead!"  "Killed!"  "Wounded!"  the  pain  of  the 
loss  for  a  time  entirely  obscured  the  glory  of  the  day:  but, 
when  a  name  was  reached  with  no  response,  the  silence  of  sus 
pense  was  depressing.  The  roll-call  finished,  the  condition  of 
the  regiment  was  far  from  being  accurately  determined,  as  at 
least  one-quarter  of  the  uninjured  in  some  companies  had  not 
come  in.  Before  the  regiment  moved  the  next  morning,  so  many 
of  those  unaccounted  for  had  come  into  camp  that  a  somewhat 
accurate  estimate  was  made  of  the  casualties  of  the  battle. 


THE   KILLED    AND   WOUNDED. 

The  following  is  the  number  of  killed  and  mortally  wounded, 
by  companies,  the  order  being  determined  by  losses :  K,  nine ; 


230  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

D,  eight;  H,  eight;  F,  seven;  A,  five;  B,  five  ;  I,  four  ;  C,  four; 
G,  two.  Col.  Gardiner  is  to  be  added  to  this  enumeration. 

The  following  is  the  loss  in  wounded,  by  companies,  the  order 
being  determined  as  above :  H,  sixteen ;  F,  fourteen ;  A,  eleven ; 
D,  ten;  G,  ten;  K,  ten;  B,  eight;  I,  six ;  C,  five. 

The  total  in  killed  and  mortally  wounded  of  officers  and  men 
was  fifty-three.  The  total  number  of  wounded  was  ninety. 
The  Fourteenth  lost  three  times  as  many  officers  in  killed  as 
any  other  regiment  in  the  brigade,  and  one-third  more  than  all 
the  other  regiments  combined.  This  statement  does  not  include 
the  mortally  wounded.  The  wounded  in  the  Fourteenth  were 
largely  in  excess  of  those  in  any  other  regiment. 

There  were  twenty-nine  of  the  Fourteenth's  dead  buried  in 
one  trench  on  the  field  where  they  fell.  They  were  afterward 
disinterred,  and  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery,  on  ground 
which  formed  a  portion  of  the  battle-field.  Their  last  resting- 
place  is  fittingly  honored  by  a  monument  erected  by  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire. 

A  view  of  this  monument,  with  the  inscriptions  thereon,  is 
given  opposite. 

On  the  front  or  east  side  of  the  monument  is  the  dedicatory 
inscription,  which  appears  in  its  proper  position  on  the  illustra 
tion  of  the  monument  as  here  given.  In  the  list  of  names,  there 
are  inaccuracies  and  omissions ;  but  the  inscriptions  are  given  as 
cut  upon  the  shaft.  Some  of  the  dead  were  removed  to  their 
native  hills  to  sleep  with  their  fathers. 

It  has  been  the  purpose  of  the  committee  preparing  this  vol 
ume  to  give  a  brief  obituary  notice  of  those  killed  in  battle. 
So  far  as  information  has  been  furnished  by  friends,  this  has 
been  done.  There  were  fifty-three  members  of  the  Fourteenth 
killed  and  mortally  wounded  in  this  battle. 

COL.  ALEXANDER  GARDINER. 

Alexander  Gardiner  was  born  in  Catskill,  N.Y.,  July  27, 
1833.  He  was  educated  at  Kimball  Union  Academy,  and  after 
graduation  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  New- 
York  City  when  twenty-two  years  old. 


.NEW  HAMPSHIRE  MONUMENT, 
NATIONAL  CEMETERY,  WINCHESTER,  VA. 


INSCRIPTION. 


231 


INSCRIPTIONS    ON    THE    NEW-HAMPSHIRE    MONUMENT    IN 
THE    NATIONAL    CEMETERY",   WINCHESTER,   VA. 

[FKONT,  OB  EAST  SIDE.]  [NORTH  SIDE.] 


NEW 
HAMPSHIRE 

ERECTS  THIS   MON 
UMENT  TO  THE  MEM 
ORY  OF  HER   BRAVE 

SONS  OF  HER 
I4TH    REGIMENT 
WHO  FELL  IN    BATTLE 
SEPT.   I9TH,   1864, 
UPON    THIS    FIELD 
AND  ARE  HERE  BURI 
ED    IN    ONE    COMMON 
GRAVE. 

CAPTS. 

W.   H.  CHAFFIN. 
W.  A.   FOSGATE. 


LIEUTS. 
H.  S.  PAUL. 
J.   A.    FISK. 


[SOUTH  SIDE.] 


SERGTS. 
C.  C.  WILSON. 
G.  W.  FELCH. 
M.  MACURDY. 
A.  A.  BAKER. 


CORPLS. 
N.  P.  RUST. 
M.  ALLEN. 
G.  W.  HAZEN. 
S.  TASKER. 
N.  W.  NOYES. 
D:  W.  CHASE, 


MORTALLY  WOUNDED. 


COL.  GARDINER. 
A.   B.  COLBURN. 
G.  H.  STONE. 
L.  WILLARD. 
H.   F.   BROWN. 
L.   E.   BENT. 
G.  W.  TUCKER. 
L.  G.  MERRILL. 
R.  VARNEY. 
O.  STRAW. 
G.   B.  COFRAN. 
H.  ATWOOD. 
A.  HARRIMAN. 


[WEST  SIDE.] 


PRIVATES. 

N.  WYMAN. 

S.  H,  YOUNG. 

G.  PERRIGO. 

G.   L.  WETHERBEE. 

F;   D.  ANDREWS. 

H.   L.  HAYNES. 

A.   E.   BOYD. 

C.  L.   HOMAN. 
M.  MARSTON. 
G.  T.  SOUTHER. 
W.  A.  SCOTT. 
O.  A.  BARRUS. 
S.  WATERS. 

D.  J.  CAMERON. 
D.  W.  PHELPS. 
L.  E.  BENT. 


232  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

He  was  in  Kansas  with  John  Brown  during  the  troublous 
times  of  Border  Ruffianism,  and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  that 
memorable  struggle  for  freedom.  He  took  the  first  printing- 
press  into  Kansas,  and  his  office  was  afterward  raided  by 
Southern  desperadoes.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  removed  to 
Claremont,  where  he  opened  a  law-office,  and  continued  the 
practice  of  his  profession  until  he  entered  the  army. 

November  17,  1859,  Col.  Gardiner  married  Miss  Mary  P. 
Cooper,  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Samuel  P.  Cooper  of  Croydon. 
Two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  were  born  to  them,  both 
now  living.  In  the  summer  of  1862  Col.  Gardiner  enlisted  and 
began  recruiting. 

When  the  Fourteenth  was  raised  he  was  appointed  adju 
tant,  and  served  in  that  position  with  marked  ability  until 
September  12,  1863,  when  he  was  promoted  to  be  major  of  the 
regiment.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Col.  Wilson,  Major  Gardi 
ner  was  appointed  colonel ;  receiving  his  commission  and  being 
mustered  only  the  day  before  the  battle  in  which  he  received 
his  death-wound.  The  circumstances  connected  with  the 
mortal  wounding  of  Col.  Gardiner  are  detailed  in  their  proper 
place.  He  lived  until  October  8,  and  is  buried  in  Claremont. 
His  widow  now  resides  in  Croydon. 

Col.  Gardiner  was  a  brilliant  officer  and  a  cultured  man, 
thoroughly  understanding  the  duties  of  his  position,  and  capa 
ble  of  leading  his  men  to  the  highest  achievements.  One  fact 
is  to  be  noticed.  When  Col.  Gardiner  took  command  of  the 
regiment,  it  was  immediately  improved  in  discipline  ;  and  he 
brought  it  up  to  its  highest  state  of  efficiency.  He  never 
sought  popularity  in  the  Fourteenth,  and  did  not  appear  to 
care  for  it ;  other  commanders  of  less  ability  might  have  won 
a  stronger  personal  following,  but  from  the  first  he  thoroughly 
identified  himself  with  the  regiment.  As  adjutant  he  was 
equalled  by  few,  excelled  by  none ;  while  his  natural  abilities 
and  military  acquirements  fully  warranted  his  final  promotion. 
He  had  the  success  of  his  command  ever  on  his  heart,  and  in 
that  heart  there  was  a  tenderer  spot  than  every  one  was  able  to 
touch.  Col.  Gardiner,  in  his  ability,  influence,  and  rank,  con- 


CAPT.    CHAFFIN.  233 

tributed  largely  to  that  record  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  of 
which  its  surviving  members  have  every  reason  to  be  proud. 

CAPT.  W.  H.  CHAFFIN. 

William  Henry  Chaffin  was  born  in  Claremont,  N.H.,  May 
21,  1839.  His  parents,  John  and  Delia  O.  Chaffin,  gave  him  a 
good  common-school  education.  He  entered  Kimball  Union 
Academy  in  Meriden,  N.H.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1861. 
While  pursuing  his  studies  he  taught  school,  and  proved  a  suc 
cessful  teacher,  while  retaining  his  high  standing  in  his  class. 
He  entered  the  Norwich  Military  University,  but,  after  remain 
ing  there  a  year,  left  his  studies  to  open  a  recruiting-office  in 
his  native  town,  August,  1862.  When  the  Fourteenth  rendez 
voused  at  Concord,  he  was  employed  in  drilling  the  recruits, 
and  was  very  zealous  in  disciplining  them.  Before  the  regi 
ment  left  Concord,  S.  M.  Bugbee,  captain  of  Company  I,  fell 
sick ;  and  William  H.  Chaffin  went  to  Washington  in  command 
of  the  company,  though  without  any  commission. 

Early  in  December  Capt.  Bugbee  resigned,  and  he  was  ap 
pointed  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Capt.  Chaffin  was  distinguished 
for  his  steady  observance  of  duty  under  all  circumstances,  and 
his  untiring  care  for  his  men.  He  generally  reported  more  men 
fit  for  duty  than  the  captain  of  any  other  company  of  the  same 
size.  In  cases  of  peculiar  danger  and  responsibility,  requiring 
courage,  coolness,  and  determination,  Capt.  Chaffin  was  often 
selected  as  being  eminently  fitted  for  such  duty.  In  the  sum 
mer  of  1863,  he  was  sent  to  the  front  with  a  detachment  of 
sixty  men  to  return  some  convalescents  to  their  regiments. 
While  on  the  way,  they  overtook  a  large  army-train  of  ammu 
nition-wagons  that  had  been  attacked  by  nearly  two  hundred 
of  Moseby's  guerillas,  disguised  as  Union  soldiers.  Capt. 
Chaffin  dispersed  the  guerillas,  and  recovered  nearly  all  the 
mules  which  they  had  driven  off.  During  the  voyage  to  New 
Orleans  in  March,  1864,  he  was  active  and  efficient  in  preserv 
ing  discipline,  and  stimulating  the  men  to  courage  and  cheer 
fulness. 


234  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Capt.  Chaffin  was  acting  lieutenant-colonel  at  the  time  of  the 
battle,  by  order  of  Col.  Gardiner,  and  was  among  the  first  who 
fell,  shot  through  the  head  by  a  Minie'-ball.  He  had  a  pre 
sentiment  of  his  death,  and  just  before  the  battle  had  sent 
home  a  request  that  his  body  be  not  removed  from  the  field 
where  he  fell.  He  was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  unmarried, 
but  left  a  mother  and  one  brother  to  mourn  his  early  death. 
His  father  died  soon  after ;  and  the  funeral  sermon  of  both  was 
preached  at  the  same  time,  in  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Claremont,  by  Rev.  E.  W.  Clark. 

CAPT.  W.  A.  FOSGATE. 

William  A.  Fosgate  was  born  in  Winchester,  June  27,  1839; 
and  his  residence  remained  there  until  his  enlistment  in  the 
Fourteenth.  He  excelled  among  his  fellows  in  the  public 
schools,  and  his  ambition  took  the  wider  range  of  liberal  educa 
tion.  March  20,  1856,  he  entered  Fort  Edward  Institute,  New 
York,  pursuing  a  four-years'  course,  and  graduating,  June  27, 
1860.  At  the  July  commencement  of  that  year,  he  entered 
Wesley  an  University.  When  he  enlisted,  August  15,  1862, 
he  was  in  his  junior  year.  During  collegiate  vacations  he 
taught  school  in  Hinsdale  and  Queensborough,  N.Y. 

While  home  on  a  furlough,  January  30,  1864,  he  was  mar 
ried  to  Miss  Frances  Hosmer  of  Fisherville.  He  left  no  chil 
dren.  His  widow  remarried,  and  resides  in  Pallegio,  Cal. 
Capt.  Fosgate  entered  the  service  as  second  lieutenant  of  Com 
pany  F.  He  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  of  Company  H, 
November  2,  1863,  and  to  be  captain  of  Company  B,  February 
19,  1864.  He  was  killed  while  leading  his  company  in  the  first 
part  of  the  battle. 

Capt.  Fosgate  was  an  active,  able,  and  ambitious  officer,  aim 
ing  for  the  highest  excellence  of  military  attainment.  In  the 
company  which  he  commanded  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  had 
the  reputation  of  being  a  strict  disciplinarian ;  and  his  whole 
conduct,  while  in  the  service,  was  calculated  to  elevate  the 
standard  of  discipline,  and  increase  the  efficiency  of  our  organi 
zation. 


LIEUT.   PAUL.  235 

LIEUT.  H.   S.  PAUL. 

• 

Henry  S.  Paul  was  born  in  Claremont,  N.H.,  April  17,  1840, 
where  he  resided  till,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  I.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  engaged,  in  com 
pany  with  his  father,  in  the  meat  and  provision  trade.  Having 
bought  out  his  father's  interest,  he  carried  on  the  business 
alone  till  a  few  months  previous  to  enlisting. 

April  19,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  E.  Holden  of  Spring 
field,  Vt.,  at  her  residence.  Their  only  child,  Walter  Henry, 
died  before  Lieut.  Paul  entered  the  army.  He  entered  the  ser 
vice  as  a  sergeant.  He  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant 
of  Company  A,  January  1,  1864,  and  shortly  afterwards  was  pro 
moted  to  be  first  lieutenant  of  the  same  company. 

While  the  Fourteenth  was  stationed  in  Washington,  in  1863 
and  1864,  Sergt.  Paul  was  on  detached  duty  at  the  Central 
Guard-House.  In  command  of  Company  A,  he  fell  in  the  first 
charge,  severely  wounded  in  the  leg.  A  member  of  his  com 
pany  found  him,  helpless,  upon  the  field;  and,  taking  him  on 
his  back,  was  carrying  him  to  the  rear,  when  a  Minie-ball  hit 
the  lieutenant  in  the  head,  killing  him  instantly ;  and  he  was 
left  by  the  side  of  a  tree,  near  the  old  rail-fence.  The  enemy, 
having  taken  possession  of  the  field,  advanced  their  line  to  this 
point ;  and,  although  his  body  was  soon  afterwards  recovered, 
the  Rebels  had  stripped  it  of  all  valuables.  Thus  fell  one  of 
the  most  promising  officers  in  the  regiment,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-four,  greatly  beloved  by  his  men,  as  well  as  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  at  home.  He  was  buried  on  the  field,  near 
where  he  fell,  in  a  common  grave  with  his  former  captain, 
W.  H.  Chaffin,  leaving  a  young  wife  to  mourn  his  death.  She 
never  recovered  from  this  blow ;  and,  after  ten  years  of  afflic 
tion,  she  died,  February  17,  1875. 

LIEUT.  J.  A.  FISKE. 

Jesse  A.  Fiske,  first  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  was  born  in 
Dublin,  June  7,  1836.  He  was  the  only  son  of  Hon.  Thomas 


236  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Fiske,  who,  for  more  than  forty  years,  has  held  a  prominent 
place  in  all  the  business  and  political  interests  of  the  town. 
His  mother,  Sophia  (Appleton)  Fiske,  belongs  to  the  Appleton 
family  whose  name  is  prominent  in  eastern  New  England. 

Lieut.  Fiske  was  educated  at  the  district  and  high  schools  of 
his  native  town,  at  the  seminary  at  Westminster,  Vt.,  and  at 
Appleton  Academy,  New  Ipswich.  He  taught  school  two  terms 
at  Dublin,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1859,  went  to  Missouri,  intend 
ing  to  open  a  school  there,  but,  not  finding  an  immediate  open 
ing,  spent  some  months  in  visiting  and  travelling  in  Missouri, 
Indian  Territory,  and  Arkansas.  Late  in  that  year,  after  recov 
ering  from  an  attack  of  typhoid-fever  which  had  prostrated  him 
for  some  time,  he  opened  a  school  in  Berryville,  Ark.,  where  he 
met  with  success,  introducing  Northern  methods  and  Northern 
books,  to  a  great  extent.  Nevertheless,  Arkansas  was  an  un 
comfortable  place  for  a  Yankee  with  anti-slavery  proclivities ; 
and  Lieut.  Fiske  was  obliged  to  keep  his  political  opinions  to 
himself,  thus  insuring  friendship  and  civil  treatment.  He  re 
frained  from  discussing  the  peculiar  condition  of  things  about 
him,  in  his  letters  home. 

In  1860  he  discovered  the  signs  of  the  on-coming  struggle, 
and  returned  home.  With  the  exception  of  teaching  one  term 
of  school  in  Walpole,  N.H.,  he  worked  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  he  enlisted,  August  9,  1862.  Lieut.  Fiske  was  buried  in 
the  National  Cemetery  at  Winchester,  Va. 

LIEUT.  G.  H.  STONE. 

George  H.  Stone  was  born  in  Marlboro  ugh,  May  3, 1831 ;  being 
brought  up  as  a  boy  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  the  district- 
school  until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  when  he  went  to  the 
high-school  in  Dublin,  remaining  there  two  terms.  He  com 
pleted  his  education  at  the  academy  in  Claremont ;  after  which 
he  served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  carpenter,  working  at  his  trade 
successfully  several  years.  May  12,  1859,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  E.  Platt  of  Marlborough.  They  had  one  child, 
who  died  in  infancy. 


LIEUT.    COLBURN.  237 

At  the  time  Lieut.  Stone  entered  the  service,  when  thirty- 
one  years  of  age,  he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  wooden- 
ware,  in  Marlboro  ugh.  He  enlisted  in  Company  C,  in  August, 
1862,  and  entered  the  service  as  a  sergeant.  He  was  afterward 
promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant  of  Company  I ;  and  May 
27,  1864,  was  again  promoted  to  the  first  lieutenantcy  of  the 
same  company.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  loved  for  his  affec 
tionate,  cheerful,  and  obedient  disposition ;  and  it  is  a  gratifica 
tion  to  his  friends  to  know  that  the  same  spirit  which  had  en 
deared  him  to  them  in  his  boyhood  was  not  marred  or  distorted 
in  later  years. 

Through  all  the  hardships  and  varying  circumstances  of  his 
army  service,  even  to  the  end,  it  was  remarked  by  his  comrades. 
Lieut.  Hadley  testifies,  that,  when  mortally  wounded,  he  still 
evinced  great  cheerfulness  and  patience,  even  indulging  in  little 
pleasantries,  though  he  lay  on  a  bed  from  which  he  was  never 
to  rise.  He  died  September  25,  in  Winchester,  six  days  after 
receiving  his  wounds.  His  body  is  buried  in  Marlborough.  He 
left  a  widow,  who  was  afterward  married  to  Bradford  Sherman, 
and  resides  in  Chicago,  111. 


LIEUT.  A.  B.  COLBURN. 

Artemas  B.  Colburn  was  born  in  Fitzwilliam,  August  1, 1838. 
His  parents  were  John  Colburn  and  Lydia  Beard,  who  were 
married  in  1825;  and  he  was  the  youngest  of  six  children. 
The  mother  still  survives,  aged  more  than  eighty.  Artemas 
received  a  good  common-school  and  business  education.  He 
was  occupied  on  a  farm  and  in  a  store  until  he  entered  the 
army.'  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  from  the  town  of  Rich 
mond,  his  father's  residence,  in  Company  F,  and  entered  the 
service  as  a  sergeant. 

August  21  he  married  Lydia  Mann  of  Richmond,  they, hav 
ing  been  playmates  from  childhood.  Their  married  life,  though 
brief,  was  a  happy  one.  In  May,  1864,  while  the  regiment  was 
in  Louisiana,  Sergt.  Colburn  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieu 
tenant  of  Company  B,  a  well-deserved  advancement. 


238  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

He  was  in  many  respects  a  model  soldier,  and  everywhere 
was  perfectly  reliable.  He  was  mortally  wounded  during  the 
first  part  of  the  battle,  and  survived  until  the  next  morning. 
His  last  words  were :  u  Give  my  love  to  my  wife,  and  tell  her 
that  I  died  in  a  good  cause."  He  was  buried  on  the  field. 
Facts  of  interest,  connected  with  Lieut.  Colburn's  service,  ap 
pear  in  other  portions  of  this  volume.  He  died  childless.  His 
widow  remarried  in  1870,  her  present  husband  being  C.  C. 
Holton  of  Hinsdale.  The  honorable  service  and  heroic  death 
of  Artemas  B.  Colburn  pronounce  his  most  eloquent  eulogy. 

LIEUT.  M.  S.  WEBSTER. 

Moulton  S.  Webster  was  born  in  the 'town  of  Button,  Vt., 
October  9,  1823.  While  an  infant  his  parents  removed  to  Sand 
wich,  which  remained  his  home  until  he  entered  the  service  of 
the  government  for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  He  be 
came  a  mechanic,  his  occupation  that  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 

In  1847  he  married  Miss  Abby  H.  Ellsworth  of  Lowell, 
Mass. ;  and  two  children  were  born  to  them,  one  of  whom,  a  son, 
is  now  living  in  Lowell.  Mrs.  Webster  died  soon  after  the 
birth  of  the  second  child.  Lieut.  Webster  afterward  married 
Miss  Mary  A.  Webster  of  Lowell.  One  son  was  born  to  them, 
now  living  in  Lawrence,  Mass. 

Lieut.  Webster  entered  the  service  as  second  lieutenant  of 
Compan}r  K,  and  held  that  position  until  he  was  mortally 
wounded.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  officers  in  the  regiment ; 
and  lived  longer,  after  being  shot,  than  any  other  member  of  the 
Fourteenth  receiving  a  fatal  wound,  except  A.  C.  Greenwood  of 
Company  A.  He  was  a  faithful,  conscientious  officer,  being 
universally  respected  as  a  man.  He  died  in  North  Sandwich, 
October  31,  1864,  and  is  there  buried.  His  wife  died  nearly  at 
the  same  time. 

SERGT.  C.  C.  WILSON. 

Charles  Carroll  Wilson  was  born  in  Sullivan,  N.H.,  October 
19,  1839.  He  graduated  at  Kimball  Union  Academy  in  1859. 


CAPT.  WM.  A.  FOSGATE. 


LIEUT.  JESSE  A.  FISK. 


CAPT.  WM.  H.  CHAFFIN. 


LIEUT.  HENRY  S.  PAUL. 


LIEUT.  M.  S.  WEBSTER. 


LIEUT.  A.  B.  COLBURN^ 


OFFICERS  KILLED  AT  OPEQUON, 


DIED  IN  BATTLE.  239 

He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  in  his  native  town  until 
he  enlisted,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  He  was  a  member 
of  Company  A,  and  promoted  to  sergeant  February  27,  1864. 
He  received  a  wound  in  the  ankle  which  disabled  him,  and  was 
then  bayoneted  through  the  neck.  His  body  is  buried  in  the 
National  Cemetery  in  Winchester. 

CORPL.  M.  ALLEN. 

Moses  Allen  was  born  in  Richmond  in  1842,  and  was  the  son 
of  Quaker  parents.  He  received  a  good  common-school  educa 
tion,  and  was  a  farmer  and  mechanic.  He  enlisted  in  Com 
pany  F  in  August,  1862,  entering  the  service  as  a  private.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  privates  in  the  company  promoted  to  be  a 
non-commissioned  officer.  He  was  one  of  those  soldiers  who 
were  valuable  to  the  government  because  never  absent  from  his 
post  of  duty,  always  filling  his  place  with  intelligence  and  fidel 
ity.  He  lies  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery. 

CORPL.  C.  A.  BALL. 

Charles  A.  Ball  was  born  in  1822,  and  was  a  resident  of 
Winchester  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  F,  in  August,  1862. 
He  had  two  sons,  both  of  whom  survive ;  one  of  them  serving 
the  full  term  in  the  same  company  with  his  father.  Charles 
entered  the  service  as  a  private,  but  fairly  earned  his  promotion 
to  a  corporalcy,  March  1,  1864.  Corpl.  Ball  was  an  active, 
ambitious  soldier,  showing  a  good  deal  of  military  aptitude,  and 
was  always  the  life  of  his  mess.  He  was  on  the  color-guard, 
and  was  the  first  man  in  the  line-of-battle  of  the  Fourteenth 
who  was  struck.  He  was  mortally  wounded,  but  lived  until 
October  25,  and  was  buried  in  the  National  Cemetery. 

CORPL.  O.  STRAW. 

Oceanus  Straw  was  born  in  Sandwich,  N.H.,  December  28, 
1823.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  in  Sandwich  at  the  time 
of  his  enlistment,  August  14,  1862,  in  Company  K,  when  he 


240  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

was  thirty-nine  years  of  age.  In  Salem,  Mass.,  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Goodwin.  They  had  two  children,  both  of  whom  are 
living.  Corpl.  Straw  died  in  hospital,  September  21,  and  is 
buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  in  Winchester.  He  left  a 
widow  who  resides  at  Sandwich. 

CORPL.  G.  W.  HAZEN. 

George  W.  Hazen  of  Company  G  was  born  in  Princeton, 
Mass.,  August  24,  1838.  He  resided  in  Dublin,  N.H.,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  private,  but 
was  appointed  corporal  February  27,  1864.  Corp.  Hazen  was 
a  faithful  soldier,  and  was  instantly  killed  by  a  Minie-ball  pass 
ing  through  his  neck,  while  gallantly  bearing  the  State  colors. 
He  was  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  unmarried.  His  body 
is  buried  in  Winchester,  his  friends  failing  in  their  attempts  to 
secure  it. 

N.  B.  WYMAN. 

Nathaniel  B.  Wyman  was  born  in  Wardsboro',  Vt.,  Septem 
ber  10,  1842.  In  1854  he  moved  to  Hinsdale,  where  he  resided 
—  being  employed  in  the  woollen-mill  there  —  until  he  enlisted 
in  Company  A,  August  llt  1862,  being  not  quite  twenty  years 
of  age.  He  was  not  married.  His  body  was  buried  in  the 
National  Cemetery  at  Winchester,  Va. 

S.  H.  YOUNGL 

Sidney  H.  Young  was  born  in  Rochester,  N.H.,  in  September, 
1838,  and  lived  in  that  vicinity  until  the  fall  of  1853,  when  he 
went  to  Rockford,  111.  Here  he  continued  his  occupation  of 
farming  for  a  few  months,  then  suddenly  disappeared ;  his 
friends  hearing  nothing  from  him  until  1860,  when  he  wrote 
to  them  from  New  Orleans.  He  was  conscripted  into  the 
Rebel  army  in  the  summer  of  1861,  and  served  until  June, 
1862,  when  he  deserted  to  the  Uniqn  forces,  falling  in  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Bucktails.  He  afterward  came  North,  and  en 
listed  in  Company  A  of  this  regiment,  August  14,  1862.  He  is 
buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Winchester. 


ROLL   OF  HONOR.  241 


A.  C.  GREENWOOD. 

Albert  C.  Greenwood,  of  Company  A,  was  born  in  Dublin, 
N.H.,  July  25,  1842 ;  receiving  his  education  in  the  district  and 
high  schools  of  that  town,  which  was  his  residence  at  the  time 
of  his  enlistment.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  unmarried.  Though 
mortally  wounded,  he  lived  nearly  three  months  and  a  half 
after  the  battle,  dying  in  Taylor  House  Hospital,  Winchester, 
December  23.  In  a  letter  written  home  a  few  days  before  his 
death,  he  said,  "  My  system  has  become  quite  debilitated,  and 
my  appetite  has  almost  left  me  at  times ;  yet  I  have  not  lost  all 
courage  or  hopes  of  recovery,  and  still  trust  that  I  may,  if  the 
good  Lord  is  willing,  reach  home  and  see  you  all."  The  letter 
was  finished  by  a  comrade  who  assisted  in  caring  for  him,  and 
who  wrote  concerning  young  Greenwood :  "  I  do  not  believe 
there  could  be  a  more  patient  sufferer  found.  I  feel  so  sorry 
for  him.  He  is  such  a  kind  and  good-hearted  soldier  that  I  have 
a  great  interest  in  his  welfare."  His  body  was  buried  on  the 
battle-field,  but  afterward  removed  to  Dublin. 


G.  L.  WETHERBEE. 

George  L.  Wetherbee  was  born  August  28,  1886,  in  Middle- 
town,  Conn.  April  29,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rosilla 
Wyman,  and  resided  in  Walpole,  N.H.,  where  he  was  employed 
in  farming.  He  enlisted  in  Company  B,  and  proved  a  faithful 
soldier  and  helpful  comrade.  He  received  a  shot  in  the  body, 
but  bravely  struggled  on  until  another  struck  him  in  the  head, 
when  he  instantly  dropped  dead.  He  was  twenty-eight  years  of 
age,  and  left  a  widow,  who  remarried,  and  is  living  in  Keene,  * 
N.H.  He  had  no  children.  His  body  is  buried  in  Winchester. 

L.  E.  BENT. 

Elmer  Bent  was  born  in  the  town  of  Winchester,  November 
25,  1841,  where  he  resided  most  of  the  time  until  his  enlist 
ment.  He  attended  the  public  schools  in  that  town,  and  was  a. 


242  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

farmer  and  mechanic.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
F,  and  served  with  the  regiment  constantly  and  faithfully  until 
his  death.  He  was  in  his  place,  in  the  front  rank,  when  mor 
tally  wounded;  being  struck  among  the  first  during  the  first 
charge,  when  a  little  more  than  one  third  across  the  open  field. 
He  lived  some  days  after  the  battle,  and  was  buried  in  the  Na 
tional  Cemetery.  He  was  nearly  twenty-three  years  of  age,  and 
unmarried. 

W.  A.  SCOTT. 

Walter  A.  Scott  was  born  in  Richmond  in  1842,  and  was  the 
son  of  John  Scott.  He  received  a  good  common-school  educa 
tion,  and  was  a  mechanic ;  his  home  being  with  his  parents  until 
his  enlistment  in  Company  F,  in  August,  1862.  His  brother-in- 
law,  Capt.  David  Buffum,  entered  the  service  at  the  same  time, 
commanding  a  company  in  the  Sixteenth  Regiment.  Walter 
was  one  of  the  best  penmen  in  the  Fourteenth.  He  Avas  in 
stantly  killed,  dying  while  charging  upon  the  enemy.  He  was 
unmarried.  His  body  lies  with  those  of  his  comrades  in  the 
National  Cemetery. 

O.  A.  BARRUS. 

Otis  A.  Barrus  was  born  in  Richmond  in  1843.  His  parents 
were  Alvan  and  Emily  Barrus,  who  resided  in  Richmond.  He 
resided  with  his  parents  until  he  entered  the  service,  August  1, 
1864,  and  was  assigned  to  Company  H.  He  was  not  married. 
Possessed  of  good  qualities,  and  having  received  an  excellent 
education,  being  a  fine  mathematician,  he  was  a  young  man  of 
much  promise.  The  circumstances  of  his  death  were  peculiarly 
sad.  He  was  a  recruit,  and  was  with  his  regiment  less  than 
two  days  when  he  was  killed.  He  stood  well  to  his  duty,  and 
died  as  bravely  as  his  veteran  comrades.  He  was  buried  in  the 
National  Cemetery. 

HARRISON  ATWOOD. 

Harrison  Atwood  was  born  in  Gray,  Me.,  July  11,  1836.  He 
was  occupied  in  farming  in  Sandwich,  N.H.,  where  he  resided 


ROLL   OF  HONOR.  243 

until  enlistment.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1858,  he  married 
Augusta  A.  Batchelder.  They  had  three  children,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  He  left  a  widow, 
who  lives  in  North  Sandwich.  Mr.  Atwood  belonged  to  Com 
pany  K,  died  of  wounds  nine  days  after  the  battle,  and  was 
buried  in  the  National  Cemetery  at  Winchester,  Va.  He  was 
twenty-eight  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

LUCIUS   PARKER. 

Lucius  Parker  was  born  in  Nelson,  N.H.,  August  30,  1826, 
where  he  resided  until  his  enlistment.  He  was  a  farmer,  and 
was  not  married.  He  was  thirty-eight  years  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  and  a  member  of  Company  G.  His  body  is  buried  in 
the  National  Cemetery,  Winchester,  Va. 

CONRAD   WEBBER. 

Conrad  Webber  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1807,  and  served 
in  the  Swiss  army,  receiving  a  ball  in  his  arm,  which  he  carried 
through  life.  He  came  to  America  in  the  winter  of  1852,  and 
settled  in  Stoddard,  where  he  lived  until  entering  the  Union 
army.  He  was  married,  and  had  three  children,  one  son  and 
two  daughters.  The  son  was  a  member  of  the  Second  Regi 
ment,  N.  H.  Volunteers,  and  died  in  Virginia.  The  daughters 
are  both  living.  Conrad  Webber  enlisted  in  Company  G,  and 
died  in  the  Rebel  prison  at  Salisbury,  N.C.,  December  14,  1864, 
of  intermittent  fever.  His  wife  never  recovered  from  the  shock 
of  his  death,  and  survived  him  only  three  years,  dying  in  the 
insane-asylum  in  Concord. 


As  showing  the  conspicuous  part  which  the  Fourteenth  bore 
in  the  battle  of  the  Opequan,'it  may  be  interesting  to  note  its 
proportionate  loss. 

The  regiment  formed  about  one-sixtieth  of  Sheridan's  army, 


244  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

while  it  lost  more  than  one-fifteenth  of  the  killed.  It  is  clear 
enough  from  the  official  figures,  and  terribly  clear  in  the  minds 
of  the  fortunate  surviving  veterans,  that  the  Fourteenth  was  in 
the  very  hottest  of  that  desperate  struggle. 

The  above  grand  roll  of  honor  proves  that  the  Fourteenth 
brought  to  the  altar  a  sacrifice  as  noble  and  costly  as  it  was  in 
its  power  to  offer  for  the  preservation  of  its  country's  integrity 
and  for  the  honor  of  that  flag  which  the  regiment  never  sullied. 
So  far  as  human  judgment  can  pronounce,  among  the  living 
there  were  as  good  men  and  as  true  ;  but  there  were  none  better 
than  those  who  fell  in  that  grand  shock  of  battle,  — a  field  they 
helped  to  win. 

To  relieve  the  painful  gloominess  engendered  by  the  above 
recital  of  bereavement,  scarcely  any  thing  can  be  offered  more 
amusing  than  the  statements  and  comments  of  Jubal  Early  con 
cerning  the  engagement.  Every  Union  soldier  knows  in  what 
an  utter  rout  and  disintegrated  mob  Sheridan  sent  the  Rebel 
host  "  whirling  through  Winchester,"  after  those  last  heights 
were  carried,  just  before  six  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  19th. 
Let  us  see,  then,  how  Early  glosses  over  that  stampede,  and 
pictures  an  orderly  and  dignified  retreat.  He  thus  describes 
the  Rebel  movements  after  the  final  charge :  — 

**  Kamseur's  division,  which  maintained  its  organization,  was  moved  on 
the  east  of  the  town  on  the  south  side  of  it,  and  put  in  position,  forming  the 
basis  for  a  new  line;  while  the  other  troops  moved  back  through  the  town. 
Wickham's  brigade,  with  some  pieces  of  horse-artillery,  on  Fort  Hill,  cov 
ered  this  movement,  and  checked  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  When 
the  new  line  was  formed,  the  enemy's  advance  was  checked  until  nightfall; 
and  we  then  retired  to  Newtown  without  serious  molestation.  Lomax  had 
held  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  check  on  the  Front  Royal  pike,  and  a  feeble 
attempt  at  pursuit  was  repulsed  by  Ramseur  near  Kernstown." 

Gen.  Early,  in  penning  this  and  other  paragraphs  quoted, 
must  have  labored  under  the  strong  delusion  of  intoxication,  or 
he  has  wilfully  falsified  in  his  statements  of  fact.  He  consoles 
himself  as  follows  :  — 

"  We  deserved  the  victory,  and  would  have  had  it  but  for  the  enemy's 
immense  superiority  in  cavalry,  which  alone  gave  it  to  him." 


THE   COUNTRY'S    VERDICT.  245 

He  further  belittles  the  victory  and  disparages  Sheridan  in  a 
characteristic  manner,  as  follows  :  — 

"As  it  was,  considering  the  immense  disparity  in  numbers  and  equip 
ment,  the  enemy  had  very  little  to  boast  of.  ...  A  skilful  and  energetic 
commander  of  the  enemy's  forces  would  have  crushed  Ramseur  before  any 
assistance  could  have  reached  him,  and  thus  insured  the  destruction  of  my 
whole  force.  .  .  .  When  I  look  back  to  this  battle,  I  can  but  attribute  my 
escape  from  utter  annihilation  to  the  incapacity  of  my  opponent.  ...  I 
have  always  thought,  that,  instead  of  being  promoted,.  Sheridan  ought  to 
have  been  cashiered  for  this  battle." 

The  fact  was,  that  Early  well  understood  his  opponent's 
strength,  —  his  spies  constantly  mingled  with  our  troops,  —  he 
had  under  his  command  the  very  flower  of  the  Rebel  army, 
familiar  with  every  Valley  manosuvre,  and  he  chose  to  risk  a 
battle. 

The  following  congratulatory  despatches  were  received  at 
headquarters :  — 

From  President  Lincoln  :  — 

"  I  have  just  heard  of  your  great  victory.  God  bless  you  all,  —  officers  and 
men.  Strongly  inclined  to  come  up  and  see  you." 

From  Lieut.-Gen.  Grant:  — 

"  I  have  just  received  the  news  of  your  great  victory,  and  ordered  each  of 
the  Army  Corps  to  fire  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns  in  honor  of  it  at  seven 
o'clock  to-morrow  morning.  If  practicable,  push  your  success,  and  make  all 
you  can  of  it. ' ' 

From  Secretary  Stanton :  — 

"  Please  accept  for  yourself  and  your  gallant  army  the  thanks  of  the  Presi 
dent  and  the  Department  for  your  great  battle  and  brilliant  victory  of  yes 
terday.  The  President  has  appointed  you  a  brigadier-general  in  the  Regular 
Army,  and  you  have  been  assigned  to  the  permanent  command  of  the  Mid 
dle  Military  Division.  One  hundred  guns  were  fired  here  at  noon  to-day  in 
honor  of  your  victory." 

From  Sherman  to  Stanton  :  — 

"  Magnificent  from  Gen.  Sheridan,  and  his  success  will  have  an  effect  all 
over  the  country.  ...  I  sent  copies  of  your  despatch  about  Sheridan  to 
Gen.  Hood,  with  my  compliments ;  but  I  know  it  does  not  afford  « comfort 
to  the  enemy.'  " 


246  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

From  Sherman  to  Grant :  — 

"  I  beg  you  to  give  my  personal  congratulations  to  Sheridan,  and  my  ear 
nest  hope  that  he  will  push  Early  back  on  Lynchburg." 

From  Grant  to  Sheridan  :  — 

"  I  congratulate  you  and  the  army  serving  under  you  for  the  great  victory 
just  achieved.  It  has  been  most  opportune  in  point  of  time  and  effect.  It 
will  open  again  to  the  government  and  the  public  the  very  important  line  of 
road  from  Baltimore  to  the  Ohio  River,  and  also  the  Chesapeake  Canal. 
Better  still,  it  wipes  out  much  of  the  stain  upon  our  arms  by  previous  disas 
ters  in  that  locality.  May  your  good  work  continue  is  now  the  prayer  of  all 
loyal  men." 

The  Fourteenth  drew  five  days'  rations  previous  to  the  bat 
tle  ;  and  many  of  the  men  came  out  of  the  fight  with  no  haver 
sacks  at  all,  while  others  had  to  throw  away  provisions  in  the 
desperation  of  conflict.  Those  who  had  rations  generously 
shared  them  witli  their  more  unfortunate  comrades,  but  there 
was  a  small  allowance  at  the  best. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  the  victorious  army  moved 
up  the  Valley  at  a  smart  pace,  the  cavalry  having  pressed  on 
ahead  of  the  infantry.  Early  had  gone  back  to  Fisher's  Hill, 
and  occupied  his  old  position  ;  his  line  extending  from  the  Shen- 
andoah  to  Little  North  Mountain,  the  divisions  being  from  right 
to  left:  Wharton's,  Gordon's,  Ramseur's,  and  Rodes's ;  Col. 
Pegram  filling  Ramseur's  old  place,  the  latter  taking  Rodes's 
division.  Lomax  headed  the  Rebel  cavalry  in  the  Luray  Val 
ley,  Early  expecting  a  flank  movement. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th  the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps 
were  camped  on  the  heights  of  Strasburg ;  the  Fourteenth  Regi 
ment  being  stationed  in  an  undulating  field  to  the  left  of  the 
pike.  Sheridan  had  already  resolved  to  attack  the  enemy  im 
mediately,  and  had  determined  on  his  plan. 

Fisher's  Hill  was  practically  impregnable  to  any  direct  as 
sault.  Sheridan  proposed  to  turn  Early's  left  flank,  —  a  most 
difficult  achievement,  and  one  which  Early  manifestly  never 
dreamed  of  as  possible.  In  the  Rebel  chieftain's  astonishing 
fulmination,  from  which  we  have  quoted,  he  declares  that  the 


FISHER  IS 
HILL 


FLANK  MOVEMENT  OF  CROOK.  247 

position  has  many  weak  points  ;  but  a-  conclusive  proof  that  he 
never  discovered  those  weak  points  until  Sheridan's  masterly 
strategy  turned  his  defiant  host  into  a  panic-stricken,  flying 
mob,  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  his  ammunition-boxes  were  re 
moved  from  the  caissons,  and  placed  behind  the  breastworks. 
Sheridan  was  to  attempt  to  move  Crook  over  Little  North 
Mountain,  and  hurl  him  on  Early's  left  flank  when  he  was  well 
occupied  with  an  attack  in  front.  The  Rebels  in  the  Valley 
were  not  used  to  any  such  audacious  and  well-calculated  ma 
noeuvring. 

Two  or  three  of  the  Fourteenth  boys,  on  the  evening  of  the 
20th,  succeeded  in  getting  a  few  lines  into  a  departing  mail, 
which  carried  the  first  authentic  notice  to  the  Granite  Hills  of 
the  losses  suffered  the  day  before. 

The  Fourteenth  lay  quiet  until  the  afternoon  of  the  21st, 
when  it  was  moved  by  the  right  flank  to  a  ridge  on  the  right  of 
the  pike,  where  Sheridan  was  manoeuvring  for  position. 

Crook  first  took  position  north  of  Cedar  Creek.  The  Rebels 
had  a  signal  station  on  Three-Top  Mountain,  overlooking  every 
rod  of  the  Union  line. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th,  Crook  was  concealed  in  a  long  piece 
of  timber,  where  he  staid  all  day  of  the  21st.  That  night  he 
was  marched  to  another  piece  of  timber,  near  Strasburg;  and  the 
next  morning  he  moved  to,  and  massed  in,  the  timber  near  Lit 
tle  North  Mountain. 

In  moving  Wright  and  Emory,  on  the  21st,  up  in  front  of  the 
Rebel  line,  a  severe  fight  was  borne  by  Getty's  and  Rickett's 
divisions  of  the  Sixth  Corps  against  a  Rebel  force  holding  Flint's 
Hill,  in  advance  of  their  main  position.  Meanwhile  Torbert, 
with  Wilson's  and  Merritt's  cavalry,  had  been  sent  up  the 
Luray  Valley  to  clear  that  section,  and  come  into  the  main  val 
ley  behind  the  enemy  after  they  were  beaten  at  Fisher's  Hill. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  the  Fourteenth  advanced  a  mile 
nearer  to  the  enemy,  and  lay  behind  some  woods  all  day.  The 
meaning  of  that  move  was,  that  the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps 
were  being  massed  in  front  of  the  enemy's  left  centre.  After 
Crook  had  reached  the  position  assigned,  Rickett's  division  of 


248  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  Sixth  Corps  was  advanced  in  front  of  the  enemy's  left  cen 
tre  ;  Averill  going  in  on  Rickett's  front,  and  driving  in  the  Rebel 
skirmish-line.  The  Rebel  signal-officer  on  Three-Top  saw  the 
whole  manoeuvre,  and  supposed  it  was  Sheridan's  turning  col 
umn.  Early  was  informed,  and  made  arrangements  accordingly  ; 
while  Crook,  unobserved  and  unsuspected,  was  working  into 
the  enemy's  rear  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountain. 

While  Early  was  amused  by  Sheridan's  neat  device,  Crook 
was  ready  to  strike  consternation  into  the  Rebel  host.  Early 
must  have  been  clad  in  one  of  his  humorous  moods  when  he 
styles  this  battle  as  "  the  affair  at  Fisher's  Hill,"  as  though  it 
scarcely  amounted  to  a  skirmish ;  and  again,  when  he  says  of 
his  intentions  previous  to  the  fight :  "  Orders  were  given  for  my 
troops  to  retire  after  dark,  as  I  knew  my  force  was  not  strong 
enough  to  meet  a  determined  assault."  It  is  evident,  as  stated 
above,  that  the  Rebel  commander  did  consider  himself  in  an 
impregnable  position  ;  and  he  planted  himself  there  to  stay  until 
he  had  whipped  Sheridan.  As  we  remember  it,  his  troops  did 
"retire;"  but  a  further  draft  on  our  memory  places  it  at  a  little 
before  "  dark." 

It  was  a  little  after  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  that  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  deployed  from  the  woods  into  line-of-battle, 
in  full  view  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  right  under  his  guns. 

The  Fourteenth  formed  nearly  on  the  edge  of  the  bluff,  which 
descends,  in  a  rocky  precipice,  to  the  pike  running  from  Stras- 
burg  straight  to  the  stone  bridge  (see  illustration),  and  to  the 
very  foot  of  Fisher's  Hill,  where  it  winds  through  a  gorge  up  to 
the  heights  beyond  the  crest.  The  elevated  and  uneven  rocky 
plateau  has  a  considerable  trend  downward  to  Tumbling  Run, 
running  along  the  foot  of  the  heights  on  which  the  Rebel  bat 
teries  were  planted,  additional  intrenchments  hiding  their  in 
fantry. 

To  the  left,  and  on  the  meadows  below,  traversed  by  the  ser 
pentine  course  of  the  Shenandoah,  a  portion  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
was  advancing  to  charge  those  perpendicular  heights ;  while  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  must  first  descend  that  fearfully  exposed  in 
cline  before  its  columns  would  beat  against  a  position  almost 
impossible  to  carry. 


CHARGING   THE  HEIGHTS.  249 

The  Fourteenth  formed  its  line-of-battle  under  fire.  It  was 
no  novelty  now :  the  boys  knew  what  fighting  meant,  and  they 
closed  up  with  that  wonderful  tenacity  of  "elbow  touch  "  which 
so  welded  them  together  at  the  Opequan.  We  were  afraid  of 
the  shells :  and,  when  the  order  to  advance  on  those  belching 
cannon,  gaping  with  the  leer  of  demons  down  upon  us,  was 
given,  there  was  a  decidedly  uncomfortable  feeling  throughout 
the  ranks ;  but  every  man  stood  square  to  the  work.  If  there 
was  any  place  for  cowards,  there  happily  was  no  room  for  skulk 
ers  ;  there  was  no  opportunity  for  a  hasty  appeal  to  the  surgeon 
on  a  sudden  attack  of  acute  ailment :  we  were  in  the  battle  be 
fore  any  body  in  the  Regiment  dreamed  there  was  to  be  any 
fighting  that  day. 

The  sight,  when  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill  fairly  opened,  was 
magnificent,  if  it  was  terrible.  The  Fourteenth  left  the  woods, 
and  faced  the  enemy's  heights  about  one  thousand  yards  from 
the  guns.  The  Rebel  batteries  were  posted  on  three  ridges, 
somewhat  elevated  above  the  general  heights,  which  extend 
across  the  valley.  On  the  right  bluff  of  their  position  were  six 
guns ;  on  the  middle,  or  "  bald-top,"  fifteen  guns ;  and  to  the 
left,  nearest  to  Little  North  Mountain,  eleven  guns. 

As  soon  as  the  Union  columns  began  their  advance,  every 
gun  opened,  and  we  were  within  easy  range.  They  expected 
that  Sheridan  was  marching  to  a  desperate  assault.  Down  the 
incline,  in  splendid  array,  the  Nineteenth  Corps  went  slowly, 
but  with  an  ominous  swing  of  step  that  meant  desperate  work 
when  the  time  should  come. 

One  third  of  the  distance  was  traversed  by  the  Fourteenth. 
Up  there  on  those  cruel  heights  we  saw  the  Rebel  gunners  at 
the  liveliest  sort  of  work.  They  were  getting  the  range  with 
fearful  accuracy.  In  ten  minutes  more  the  carnage  must  be 
appalling ;  but  no  Rebel  watch-dial  was  ever  to  mark  that  ten 
minutes. 

Capt.  Tolman  was  just  giving  cautions  for  preserving  the 
splendid  line  which  the  Fourteenth  was  showing  in  its  advance, 
when  we  heard  a  strange  cheer.  We  had  heard  that  shout  once 
before  from  the  Rebel  position :  it  was  on  the  field  of  the  Ope 
quan,  at  five  o'clock. 


250  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

What  could  it  mean  ? 

"  There  is  a  Union  flag  on  that  gun!    I  see  it!" 

Yes :  away  up  there,  on  those  unattainable  heights,  on  that 
Rebel  cannon  in  the  left  group  of  guns,  stood  one  of  Crook's 
color-bearers,  waving  that  resplendent  banner  with  thirty-four 
stars  upon  it,  signalling  to  a  triumphant  army,  that,  while  it 
was  marching  up  to  death  in  front,  victory  had  been  won  in 
the  rear. 

Let  no  civilian  attempt  to  imagine  the  glad  impulse  which 
surged  through  the  ranks.  It  was,  to  start  for  those  heights  on 
the  dead  run. 

"  Steady  !  steady,  men  !  "  from  our  commander,  Tolman,  held 
every  man  to  his  place ;  and  still  we  marched  on  in  line-of-battle 
to  the  charge. 

For  a  few  minutes  longer  the  enemy's  guns  farther  to  the 
right  kept  up  the  fire,  but  it  was  useless. 

Crook  had  struck,  and  his  blow  was  as  irresistible  as  a  thun 
derbolt.  Had  the  mountain  itself  yawned,  and  out  of  the 
caverns  of  the  pit  had  surged  legions  of  demon  foes,  or  had  the 
angelic  hosts  of  heaven  descended  to  the  attack,  Early's  troops 
could  hardly  have  been  more  astonished. 

The  Rebel  generals  made  superhuman  efforts  to  escape  from 
the  disaster.  Ramseur  tried  to  throw  his  brigades  to  the  left ; 
Pegram  was  appealed  to,  and  Wharton  ordered  up,  so  Early 
says.  He  praises  the  coolness  of  his  cannoneers,  but  his  infan 
try  ran  like  frightened  sheep,  and  they  had  good  reason.  They 
supposed  that  a  heavy  Union  force  had  come  down  the  valley, 
and  fallen  upon  their  rear,  cutting  off  all  retreat. 

They  started  for  the  river  away  to  their  right,  and  endeav 
ored  to  escape  by  fording  the  Shenandoah,  and  getting  into  the 
mountains.  By  this  mistake  of  the  Johnnies,  our  cavalry  cap 
tured  most  of  the  prisoners  taken.  The  way  to  the  rear  was 
pretty  much  open  when  the  Rebel  line  first  broke  and  fled. 

The  stampede  on  the  left  was  in  full  view  of  the  Fourteenth, 
and  was  a  most  edifying  spectacle. 

As  soon  as  the  guns  on  the  heights  were  all  silenced,  and  the 
enemy  had  abandoned  its  lines,  the  Fourteenth  moved  by  the 


\ 


THE    STONE    BRIDGE 


A    GLORIOUS    VICTORY.  251 

flank  down  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  filed  over  the  stone 
bridge,  and  marched  up  the  pike  through  the  gorge  to  the  emi 
nence  in  rear  of  the  heights  just  held  by  Early's  army. 

We  had  captured  more  than  one-third  of  all  his  cannon,  be 
sides  a  large  quantity  of  other  arms  and  material  of  war. 

It  was  in  Sheridan's  plan  to  capture  the  Rebel  army  entire ; 
and,  had  the  movement  of  our  cavalry  up  the  Luray  valley  been 
successful,  so  as  to  reach  the  valley  at  Newmarket  ahead  of 
Early,  the  object  would  doubtless  have  been  accomplished. 

The  following  order  was  sent  by  Secretary  Stanton  to  the 
commander  of  every  army-corps  in  the  country :  "  On  receipt 
of  this  order  you  will  cause  a  national  salute  of  one  hundred 
guns  to  be  fired  in  honor  of  the  great  victory  achieved  by 
Major-Gen.  Sheridan,  and  the  United -States  forces  under  his 
command,  over  the  Rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Early,  on  the  22d 
instant,  at  Fisher's  Hill." 

The  following  is  one  of  Early's  characteristic  comments  :  "  If 
Sheridan  had  not  had  subordinates  of  more  ability  and  energy 
than  himself,  I  should  probably  have  had  to  write  a  different 
history  of  my  Valley  campaign." 

Can  any  veteran  of  the  Fourteenth  forget  the  performance 
which  directly  followed  Fisher's  Hill  ?  For  an  hour  after  the 
heights  were  carried,  there  was  a  lull  and  a  rest ;  although  the 
troops  were  all  the  while  slowly  moving  beyond  the  heights, 
massing,  and  waiting  for  the  next  move.  Never  was  an  army 
happier.  It  was  the  glad  re-action  from  a  terrible  strain.  The 
whole  army  was,  for  an  hour,  a  mighty  pack  of  well-disciplined 
boys.  Ranks  were  kept,  and  perfect  order  preserved  ;  but  the 
boys  did  shout  and  yell  and  strain  their  throats  as  soldiers  can 
when  each  man  tries  to  outdo  his  neighbor.  Every  regiment 
cheered  every  other  regiment  that  it  passed.  They  roared  and 
bellowed  and  whooped ;  and  every  man  of  us  was  away  inside 
the  truth  when  he  declared,  that  he  "  never  yelled  so  in  all  his 
life." 

No  yawning  battle-field  graves  that  night  for  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment.  Not  one  of  our  beloved  stark  and  cold,  or  maimed 
ajad  dying,  and  but  two  wounded ;  though  many  had  fallen  in 


252  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

other  battalions.  Yet  a  great  victory  was  gained,  and  the  army 
was  once  more  to  pursue  a  beaten  foe.  It  was  dark  when  orders 
came  for  the  first  brigade  of  Grover's  division  to  take  the  ad 
vance,  and  chase  the  enemy  all  night  without  giving  him  time 
to  rest. 

Early  declares  that  "  vigorous  pursuit  was  not  made  ;  "  but 
the  Fourteenth,  which  was  in  the  very  front  all  that  night, 
would  like  to  have  Early  give  an  apple-jack  definition  of  "vigor 
ous."  The  Rebel  general  manifested  a  good  deul  of  vigor  in 
running,  and  was  obliged  to  burn  many  of  his  wagons  to  keep 
them  from  falling  into  our  hands,  and  then  he  failed. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  men  would  have  consid 
ered  this  forced,  all-night  march  as  a  rough  infliction ;  but  never 
did  soldiers  set  out  upon  arduous  service  with  more  alacrity. 

After  the  first  two  hours  the  prevailing  hilarity  settled  down 
into  quiet  merriment ;  and  the  Fourteenth  led  the  pursuing  col 
umn  at  a  good  smart  pace,  singing,  whistling,  and  bantering 
jokes  at  the  expense  of  the  flying  Johnnies.  The  Eighth  Corps 
was  well  to  the  rear,  having  been  obliged  to  march  back  to 
Strasburg  for  their  knapsacks. 

A  little  after  midnight,  as  the  column  was  marching  down 
a  hill  into  a  hollow,  through  which  and  across  the  pike  ran  a 
good-sized  stream,  and  beyond  which  rose  the  corresponding 
hill,  suddenly  a  stream  of  fire  a  quarter  of  a  mile  long  flashed 
along  the  opposite  hillside,  and  the  rattle  of  musketry  followed. 
The  bullets  flew  thick  about  us.  The  writer  cocked  his  rifle, 
backed  up  the  hill  a  couple  of  rods,  and  lay  down.  All  was 
confusion.  The  Fourteenth  behaved  well,  simply  recoiling,  not 
retreating  at  all,  nor  firing,  —  save  in  a  few  instances,  —  but 
waiting  for  orders.  It  was  pitch  dark,  and  no  one  could  deter 
mine  the  strength  of  the  demonstration. 

A  regiment  in  the  rear  of  the  Fourteenth  was  bound  to  do 
some  killing,  and  didn't  seem  to  be  over-nice  in  the  choice  of  a 
target.  We  were  in  more  danger  from  Union  muskets  in  the 
rear  than  from  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  possible  a  line-of-battle 
was  formed  across  the  pike ;  Capt.  Ripley  showing  great  cool 
ness,  and  rendering  efficient  service  in  restoring  order. 


A   MIDNIGHT  AMBUSH.  253 

The  Fourteenth  formed  in  line  to  the  right  of  the  pike,  a 
New- York  regiment  being  about  ten  rods  in  front.  Just  as  the 
line-of-battle  was  well  formed,  the  enemy  opened  upon  us  with 
two  field-pieces  from  the  opposite  hill ;  but  they  mostly  shot 
wide  of  the  mark,  though  one  shell  struck  directly  in  front  of 
the  Fourteenth's  colors,  and  just  in  rear  of  the  New- York  boys. 
But  few  shells  were  thrown.  A  Union  skirmish-line  was  ad- 
Vctnced;  and  the  army  slowly  moved  forward  in  the  darkness,  in 
line-of-battle.  Early  had  accomplished  his  purpose.  We  were 
pressing  him  sore.  He  threw  out  a  skirmish-line  to  the  rear, 
planted  two  guns  on  a  hillock,  delayed  the  pursuing  column  for 
two  hours,  and  gained  precious  time.  No  further  disturbance 
marked  the  night's  race  ;  the  Union  troops  soon  filing  from  line 
to  flank  movement,  and  jogging  on  as  rapidly  as  they  could  be 
pressed. 

Lieut.  W.  H.  Sargent  of  Company  I)  was  captured  by  the 
Rebels,  at  the  battle  of  the  Opequan,  and  in  company  with  about 
twenty  officers  and  three  hundred  other  prisoners  of  war,  was 
still  under  guard  just  before  the  battle  of  Fisher's  Hill ;  the 
Rebel  army  being  encamped  at  Tom's  Run,  about  twenty-five 
miles  from  Winchester.  Late  in  the  afternoon  of  September 
22,  couriers  came  into  the  camp,  announcing  the  progress  of  a 
disastrous  fight.  In  consequence  of  this  information,  the  pris 
oners  were  hastily  marched  off  under  guard,  stopping  only  for  a 
short  rest  shortly  before  daybreak.  Before  resuming  the  march, 
some  of  the  prisoners,  among  them  Lieut.  Sargent,  were  allowed 
to  go  to  the  bank  of  the  brook  beside  which  they  had  halted,  to 
drink  and  wash.  Sargent  noticed  a  narrow  ditch  running  at 
right  angles  with  the  brook,  and,  taking  advantage  of  a  moment 
ary  inattention  of  the  guard,  concealed  himself  in  it,  with  the 
assistance  of  a  fellow-prisoner.  He  was  not  missed,  and  his 
tired  and  hungry  comrades  moved  on  without  him.  Here  he 
lay  until  ten  o'clock,  not  daring  to  change  his  position  ;  for  hun 
dreds  of  Rebel  soldiers  were  halting  to  bathe  in  the  stream 
within  a  few  feet  of  his  hiding-place,  and  some  of  them  standing 
so  near  that  they  seemed  to  be  looking  directly  into  his  face  as 


254  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

lie  lay  upon  his  back.  Gen.  Breckinridge  rode  into  the  stream 
close  by  his  feet,  to  water  his  horse.  Gen.  Gordon's  division 
was  the  last  to  pass,  and  he  could  hear  the  noise  of  the  skirmish 
ing  which  the  Union  cavalry  was  carrying  on  with  their  rear. 
After  waiting  for  some  time  after  the  last  Rebel  had  disappeared, 
Lieut.  Sargent  left  his  concealment,  and  looked  about  him  to 
determine  the  course  of  his  flight.  Across  the  brook  was  a 
highway;  beyond  this  was  a  field  of  sugar-cane,  then  a  strip  of 
woods,  and,  still  farther,  a  wooded  mountain.  Deciding  to 
reach  the  mountain  if  possible,  he  removed  his  blouse,  in  order 
that  the  shoulder-straps  might  not  betray  him,  and  crossed  the 
brook  to  the  road;  when  two  mounted  Rebel  officers  came  in 
sight  round  a  turn  in  the  road.  He  crossed  the  road,  and  was 
just  getting  over  the  fence,  when  one  of  them  asked  him  what 
division  he  belonged  to.  "  Gordon's,"  replied  Sargent,  hoping 
they  would  take  him  to  be  a  Rebel;  but  the  officer  ordered  him 
to  halt,  at  the  same  time  taking  aim  at  him  with  his  rifle.  Sar 
gent  was  in  the  cane-brake  before  he  could  fire,  and,  soon  enter 
ing  the  woods,  found  it  to  be  only  a  narrow  strip  bordering  a 
large  river ;  on  the  other  side  of  which  was  a  wide  interval,  to 
be  crossed  before  the  mountain  could  be  gained.  Knowing  that 
his  only  hope  of  escape  was  in  hiding  in  the  river,  he  plunged 
in;  coming  up  under  some  driftwood  about  twenty  rods  from 
the  bank.  Raising  his  head  above  the  surface,  he  saw  the  two 
Rebels  at  different  points  on  the  bank,  looking  for  him ;  and, 
diving  again  to  get  farther  away,  he  was  observed  by  one  of 
them,  and  obliged  to  come  out,  and,  at  the  village  of  Mount 
Jackson,  was  turned  over  to  the  provost-guard.  That  after 
noon  a  Union  shell  exploded  in  the  house  where  he  was  quar 
tered,  creating  great  destruction,  and  causing  the  Rebels  to 
seek  safer  quarters.  He  was  finally  taken  to  Libby  Prison, 
where  he  was  soon  after  paroled. 

A  difficulty  had  arisen,  and  every  mile  of  march  was  increas 
ing  it.  The  men  had  drawn  no  rations  since  the  day  before 
Opequan  battle:  there  was  nothing  left  to  subsist  upon;  and 
the  army  was  running  away  from  its  supply-train,  which  was 
coming  up  from  the  rear.  A  halt  was  inevitable. 


AN  EXHILARATING   CHASE.  255 

At  four  A.M.  Woodstock  was  reached  by  the  Union  advance. 
The  column  filed  into  a  field  beyond  the  town,  stacked  arms, 
and  waited  for  the  supply-train.  The  men  were  so  weary  that 
most  of  them  slept  until  ten  o'clock,  like  logs.  The  long  train, 
with  its  din  and  racket,  rolled  by  within  a  few  feet,  and  never 
roused  us.  . 

That  morning  Early  got  his  shattered  army  —  those  who  had 
not  made  for  the  mountains  or  been  captured  —  back  to  Mount 
Jackson;  and  just  beyond,  on  Rude's  Hill,  he  made  a  stand. 
He  had  a  hospital  and  stores  at  Mount  Jackson,  which  he  deter 
mined  to  save.  Sheridan's  cavalry  made  an  attempt  to  outflank 
him  on  his  right :  but  Averill  did  not  arrive  as  expected ;  and, 
after  pushing  him  some  on  the  front,  the  cavalry  desisted,  and 
waited  for  the  infantry. 

Early  improved  his  time,  and  considerably  re-organized  his 
army;  setting  it  in  motion  southward  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th,  but  leaving  a  strong  rearguard  on  Rude's  Hill,  intrenched 
to  withstand  the  Union  advance.  About  ten  o'clock  the  Four 
teenth  reached  Mount  Jackson  ;  and  there  on  the  heights,  just 
beyond  the  ruins  of  a  splendid  railroad-bridge  whose  track  ran 
one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  the  river-bed,  was  the 
enemy,  advantageously  posted.  The  stream  was  the  North 
Fork  of  the  Shenandoah,  which  here  enters  the  Valley  from  the 
west.  Every  Fourteenth  boy  will  remember  the  wide  detour 
to  the  right,  and  wading  of  the  river  up  to  our  waists.  Early 
got  a  good  deal  of  cursing  for  compelling  the  men  to  suffer  that 
wetting :  it  wasn't  kind  in  the  Rebel  hero. 

When  we  got  around  in  front  of  the  enemy's  position,  he 
wasn't  there.  The  day  was  memorable  in  Valley  tactics.  We 
had  the  enemy  well  in  view  from  every  eminence  all  day.  At 
every  available  point  Early  would  turn,  and  show  fight  with  his 
rearguard,  while  his  main  army  hurried  on.  That  rearguard 
surely  did  well.  On  every  prominent  hill-crest  during  the  day 
one  of  Sheridan's  batteries  would  shell  the  retreating  foe  until 
out  of  range  ;  when  it  would  limber  up,  gallop  ahead  to  another 
rise,  and  repeat  the  entertainment. 

The  infantry  marched  by  the  flank  in  brigade  columns  so  dis- 


256  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

tanced  as  to  be  able  to  swing  into  line-of-battle  in  five  minutes 
at  any  time.  Several  times  that  day,  "  On  the  right  into  line  !  " 
was  the  order;  and  then  a  splendid  spectacle  was  presented  as 
two  or  three  lines  of  battle  suddenly  formed  away  across  the 
valley,  to  break  into  column  again  when  the  enemy  retired. 

The  first  brigade  was  away  on  the  right  of  the  army,  march 
ing  farthest  from  the  pike,  along  the  hillsides,  and  so  had  the 
best  opportunity  for  observing  the  manoeuvres  of  the  day  with 
out  being  obliged  so  often  to  deploy. 

It  was  Sheridan's  intention  to  bring  on  an  engagement,  but 
he  could  not  tempt  Early.  The  latter  was  evidently  disgusted 
with  Sheridan's  style  of  fighting.  Just  before  sunset  Early 
says  that  he  determined  to  resist  any  further  pursuit,  so  that 
his  wagons  could  escape  on  the  Port  Republic  road.  He  planted 
his  batteries,  formed  in  line,  but  says  that  Sheridan  went  into 
camp  out  of  range.  The  fact  is,  Sheridan's  cavalry  under 
Powell  had,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  badly  defeated  Lomax 
on  the  Rebel  left,  crowded  round  in  his  rear  by  the  back  road, 
and  gained  the  Valley  pike. 

Early  could  not  retreat  up  the  Valley  through  Harrisonburg. 
He  must  turn  to  the  left  and  east  on  the  Port  Republic  road. 
Sheridan  went  into  camp  that  night  six  miles  south  of  New 
market  ;  and  in  the  night  Early  made  another  precipitate  run, 
stopping  beyond  Port  Republic.  Wickham  arrived  at  New 
market  Gap  just  too  late  to  re-enforce  Early,  and  had  to  proceed 
farther  up  the  Luray. 

We  have  seen  that  Sheridan's  cavalry  in  the  Luray  arrived 
at  Newmarket  too  late  to  get  in  rear  of  the  enemy.  At  this 
time  Early  was  re-enforced  by  Kershaw's  division. 

The  Union  infantry  kept  on  up  the  Valley  pike,  the  Four 
teenth  reaching  Harrisonburg  on  the  25th. 

The  next  day  the  Sixth  and  Nineteenth  advanced  to  Mount 
Crawford,  seven  miles,  and  there  halted  to  sustain  the  various 
and  rapid  cavalry  movements  which  Sheridan  put  in  execution. 
Crook  remained  somewhat  to  the  rear  to  await  developments. 
The  same  day  Merritt's  cavalry  moved  to  Port  Republic,  and 
Torbert's  to  Staunton  and  Waynesborough,  to  destroy  Rebel 
stores  and  communications.  All  mills  were  to  be  burned. 


A   LIVELY  PROVOST-MARSHAL.  257 

During  each  of  these  movements  there  was  considerable 
fighting ;  our  cavalry  being  forced  to  retire  after  having  accom 
plished,  for  the  most  part,  their  purposes.  At  this  time  Early 
appears  to  have  shown  great  vigor  and  good  generalship. 

Mount  Crawford  was  the  southern  limit  reached  by  the 
Union  infantry,  where  it  remained  until  October  1. 

The  Fourteenth  Regiment,  however,  made  a  short  stop  there, 
remaining  only  one  hour,  then  marching  back  to  Harrisonburg, 
where  it  was  assigned  to  provost-duty,  performing  the  same  until 
the  army  retired  down  the  Valley. 

Capt.  T.  A.  Ripley  was  relieved  from  duty  on  Gen.  Birge's 
staff,  and  appointed  provost-marshal  of  Harrisonburg.  He 
also  assumed  command  of  the  Fourteenth ;  being  the  senior  of 
Capt.  Tolman,  who,  in  the  absence  of  all  field-officers,  had 
commanded  the  regiment  since  the  close  of  the  battle  of  the 
Opequan. 

It  is  moderate  to  affirm  that  provost-duty  in  Harrisonburg 
was  performed  pretty  efficiently.  All  Rebel  suspects  were  made 
to  play  the  liveliest  antics.  Few  spots  of  concealment  escaped 
the  Argus  eye  and  remarkable  activity  of  the  provost-marshal. 
It  was  the  most  uncomfortable  spot  in  the  entire  so-called  Con 
federacy  for  any  man  or  woman  who  had  any  more  property 
in  store  than  he  or  she  could  clearly  account  for.  One  confis 
cation  consisted  of  three  webs  of  cotton  cloth.  But  even  our 
fertile-minded  provost-marshal  was  in  a  quandary  how  to  dis 
pose  of  the  captured  cloth.  It  was  finally  issued  to  the  men  in 
three-quarter-yard  strips.  The  recipients  were  more  amused 
than  benefited  by  this  novel  "  ration  "  of  cotton  cloth. 

During  the  few  days  of  its  stay  in  Harrisonburg,  the  Four 
teenth  enjoyed  life,  and  had  a  good  time  generally. 

October  1  Merritt  re-occupied  Port  Republic ;  the  Sixth  and 
Nineteenth  Corps  moved  back  to  Harrisonburg ;  while  Early  held 
a  strong  position  in  Brown's  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  he  being 
within  supporting  distance  of  Lee. 

On  the  5th  Early  was  re-enforced  by  Rosser's  brigade  of 
cavalry;  and  with  fresh  artillery,  and  Kershaw's  infantry,  he 
was  stronger  than  when  he  first  moved  down  the  Valley. 


258  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


FORAGING. 

The  word  "  foraging,"  as  used  by  the  Union  volunteer,  was 
an  exceedingly  elastic  and  comprehensive  term.  If  any  unso 
phisticated  civilian  imagines  that  the  bummer  element  of  the 
army  monopolized  that  short  cut  between  demand  and  supply 
denominated  "foraging,"  he  will  learn  his  error  by  a  most 
casual  peep  behind  the  scenes.  In  fact,  foraging,  like  charity, 
covers  a  multitude  of  sins :  and  not  merely  the  flagrant,  vulgar 
category  of  "  scooping-in "  sins  crept  under  the  convenient 
mantle ;  but  high-toned  transgressions,  of  euphemistic  designa 
tions,  fraternized  with  the  antics  of  the  rank  and  file,  and  it 
was  all  —  foraging.  Gen.  Sherman,  in  his  report  on  the  "  March 
to  the  Sea,"  thus  naively  discusses  this  feature  of  that  celebrated 
campaign :  — 

"  A  little  loose  in  foraging,  they  *  did  some  things  they  ought  not  to  have 
done  : '  yet,  on  the  whole,  they  have  supplied  the  wants  of  the  army  with  as 
little  violence  as  could  be  expected,  and  as  little  loss  as  I  calculated.  " 

Probably  the  other  side  would  hardly  characterize  the  freaks 
of  Sherman's  bummers  as  "a  little  loose  foraging;"  but,  by 
the  practices  of  all  nations  at  war  in  modern  times,  the  Rebel 
inhabitants  of  Georgia,  and,  indeed,  of  the  entire  South,  had  no 
cause  for  complaint.  There  were  isolated  instances  of  entirely 
unauthorized  and  wanton  destruction  of  valuable  property  and 
family  keepsakes ;  there  was  some  marauding  which  brought 
the  blush  of  shame  to  every  honorable  volunteer's  cheek :  but 
these  were  rare  cases  arid  plain  exceptions.  Scarcely  one  gross 
outrage  can  be  alleged  against  that  mighty  host  which  contented 
itself  with  being  a  conquering  army  when  there  was  much 
excuse  for  whirling  through  the  South  a  besom  of  destruction. 
Let  those  who  magnify  single  instances  of  apparent  wantonness 
remember,  that,  while  the  high-minded  Union  veteran  depre 
cated  all  such  ventures,  a  terrible  provocation  existed  when 
Rebel  women  lured  the  boys  in  blue  into  ambuscades  and  death 
traps,  and  soldiers  were  shot  down  from  the  windows  of  private 
houses  by  Rebel  citizens  having  no  visible  connection  with  any 
army.  , 


HEN-ROOST  TACTICS.  259 

Training  in  the  school  of  the  forager  often  preceded  any  drill 
in  the  school  of  the  soldier.  The  average  battalion  showed  a 
proficiency  in  rallying  round  a  hen-roost  or  aligning  on  a  rail- 
fence,  quite  equal  to  its  early  alacrity  in  rallying  round  the  flag 
or  its  ability  to  handsomely  dress  on  the  color-line.  No  obnox 
ious  imputation  can  be  inferred  from  this  remark,  for  no  coward 
in  battle  was  ever  famous  for  pig-chasing ;  while  the  converse 
was  true,  that  the  regiments  most  noted  for  sensing  the  true 
inwardness  of  the  commissary  resources  of  any  region  blessed 
by  their  presence  were  the  reliable  ones  for  a  brilliant  onset  or 
defensive  steadiness.  Levying  subsistence  from  the  enemy  was 
a  military  duty,  requiring  no  compulsion  for  its  faithful  per 
formance.  The  boys  showed  a  remarkable  facility  in  this 
department  of  strategy,  and  displayed  a  truly  wonderful  inge 
nuity  of  resource  and  adaptation  of  means  to  ends.  The  tradi 
tions  of  boyhood  watermelon-essays  doubtless  rounded  out  the 
broad  culture  of  our  boys  in  the  art  of  campaign  gastronomies. 

When  one  of  the  companies  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment 
started  for  the  general  camp  in  Concord,  the  excursion  was 
enlivened  by  a  bountiful  and  delicious  lunch  served  through 
the  train ;  and  thereby  hangs  a  tale.  Praise  was  lavished  with 
out  stint  upon  the  generous,  public-spirited  man  who  con 
tributed  the  immense  hampers  of  roast  chicken.  But  when  the 
benevolent  gentleman,  who  "  contributed "  so  extensively  to 
this  refreshment,  inspected  his  depleted  hen-roost,  he  was 
busied  with  other  than  patriotic  sentiments.  He  was  of  that 
sort  of  public  nuisance  which  always  carves  its  opinion  on  the 
body  of  a  town-meeting,  and  he  invariably  opposed  appropria 
tions  on  economic  grounds.  But  when  he  made  an  obnoxious 
speech  against  paying  town-bounties  to  the  soldiers  enlisting  to 
fill  the  town's  quota  in  August,  1862,  there  insinuated  itself 
into  even  his  obtuseness  the  conviction  that  somebody  had 
made  a  mistake. 

One  beautiful  midnight,  with  a  full  moon,  just  before  the 
recruits  were  to  depart  for  the  Concord  rendezvous,  this  bounty- 
saving  citizen  was  aroused  by  two  travellers.  He  responded  so 
immediately  that  the  item  of  clothing  beyond  a  shirt  was  a 


260  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

matter  of  no  consequence.  There  were  some  other  accessories 
of  an  approaching  tableau  not  worth  mentioning,  such  as  the 
circumstance  that  there  were  twenty  less  chickens  on  this  emi 
nent  citizen's  roosts  than  there  were  twenty  minutes  earlier; 
also  that  twenty  men  —  the  number  twenty  was  a  significant 
number  that  night  —  lay  very  low  behind  the  paling,  within 
twenty  feet  of  that  front  door  in  which  stood  the  shivering 
patriot;  further,  that  an  adjacent  cucumber-patch  had  just 
previously  been  scoured  by  the  aforesaid  gallant  twenty  plus 
two.  It  must  be  considered  as  curiously  unfortunate  that  the 
cucumber-patch  yielded,  on  the  night  in  question,  a  remarkable 
harvest  of  rotten  fruit,  just  in  that  condition  of  ripeness  to  fur 
nish  a  brave  soldier  with  excellent  material  for  hand-grenade 
practice.  One  other  circumstance  was  most  singular.  A  mag 
nificent  American  eagle,  roosting  on  the  gable  of  a  private 
mansion  at  midnight,  in  the  midst  of  our  great  war,  must  have 
been  considered  a  significant  omen ;  and  it  was  so  regarded  by 
the  squad  of  heroes  aforesaid,  for  two  of  the  men  were  detailed 
to  invite  the  sleeping  economist  to  come  out  and  view  the 
national  bird. 

Our  victim  has  always  averred  that  he  saw  no  eagle;  but  the 
conditions  were  not  favorable  for  accurate  observation,  even 
with  an  eagle  on  the  gable,  though  the  occasion  was  for  him 
neither  monotonous  nor  lacking  in  instruction.  He  did  not 
stop  "  to  reason  why,"  nor  to  argue  with  the  half-hundred  soft 
seed-cucumbers  which  hastened  in  from  all  directions  to  con 
gratulate  him  upon  his  new  possession.  In  his  somewhat  hasty 
desire  to  step  into  the  house  for  something,  he  slipped  up  on  a 
big,  treacherous  cucumber;  and  as  he  rose  from  a  back  hug  with 
the  cobble-walk,  and  dove  into  the  doorway,  it  is  affirmed  by 
several  of  the  boys  that  he  made  some  remarks.  Those  chickens 
were  well  cooked  by  perfectly  innocent  ladies  for  the  "  noble 
soldier-boys;"  and  the  said  boys  ate  them,  thinking  of  the 
American  eagle  and  his  remarkable  midnight  perch. 

There  is  no  intention  here  of  dignifying  the  petty  and  con 
temptible  stealings  indulged  in  by  reckless  volunteers  with  the 
characterization  of  our  title.  Neither  shall  foraging  account  for 


A    SHARP   TRICK.  261 

the  sharp  but  unworthy  trick  of  that  soldier  who  made  one 
twenty-dollar  bill  feed  him  daintily  for  a  fortnight  after  pay 
day,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  had  the  magical  greenback 
still  in  his  pocket.  He  would  visit  some  pie  or  apple  stand 
where  five  dollars  in  change  could  never  be  found.  He  ate  all 
the  pie,  apples,  cakes,  etc.,  he  could  stow  away ;  and  then 
he  was  in  a  pressing  hurry  to  get  away.  The  pie-vender  could 
not  change  the  bill ;  and  dared  not  leave  the  premises  for  a 
moment  to  procure  change,  for  reasons  which  commend  them 
selves  to  every  veteran's  recollection.  Our  hero  could  not  wait 
to  argue  long  over  a  dollar's  worth  of  food  already  digesting: 
hence  the  swindled  purveyor  of  colic-excitants  did  wait,  and 
probably  is  still  waiting,  for  his  pay. 

There  were  other  eminently  successful  devices  hardly  defina 
ble  as  foraging.  Such  were  the  "requisitions"  for  whiskey, 
brandy,  sugar,  treacle,  etc.,  never  made  out  on  recognized  gov 
ernment  blanks ;  the  said  select  rations  being  drawn  by  officers' 
servants  from  the  brigade  stores,  by  a  strange  coincidence,  when 
the  commissary  was  absent.  It  was  not  foraging  when  an  offi 
cer  was  caught  behind  a  big  tree  in  a  lonely  dell  of  a  Virginia 
landscape,  eagerly  devouring  jellies  and  other  goodies  intended 
for  the  sick  boys  in  hospital.  General  foraging  was  perfectly 
consonant  with  manliness,  and  was  not  unworthy  of  the  cause. 
Pile  extra  rails  upon  the  camp-fires,  and  let  the  stories  go  round, 
—  the  breakneck  adventures,  sly  reconnoissance  of  henneries, 
apiaries,  pig-yards,  and  pastures ;  the  escapades,  and  the  essays 
where  there  was  no  escape ;  the  mysterious  burdens  stealing 
into  camp,  and  confided  to  the  cook,  with  a  judicious  allotment 
to  an  officer  who  never  could  be  bribed,  but  was  amenable  to 
reason ;  the  long  array  of  accommodating  privates  who  were 
willing  to  oblige  the  cook  by  going  outside  the  guards  for  a  pail 
of  water,  and  using  up  a  great  deal  of  time  in  finding  the  spring ; 
the  savory  odors  of  tender  roasts  and  incomparable  camp -stews, 
larded  with  occasional  relishes  adroitly  fished  from  mysterious 
nooks,  —  all  these  reminiscences  return  to  intensify  and  heighten 
veteran  memories.  The  remarks  in  this  article  are  limited  to 
individual,  or  at  least  unauthorized  foraging,  and  ignore  all  or- 


262  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

ganized  levying  of  subsistence  by  moving  armies.  For  neces 
sary  sustenance,  for  coveted  luxuries  not  otherwise  obtainable, 
and  for  the  pure  love  of  fun  and  adventure,  these  provision 
larks  were  indulged  in.  The  official  sternness  and  personal 
pliability  of  regimental  and  company  commanders  were  most 
amusing  and  provocative  of  laughable  contradictions.  When  a 
large  portion  of  the  regiment  was  making  ready  one  dark  night 
for  an  adventure  outside  the  lines,  a  feat  of  reprisal  and  revenge 
for  a  shot  at  a  comrade  fired  by  an  irate  farmer  who  was  losing 
his  straw,  the  commanding  officer  ordered  the  guards  to  fire  on 
any  man  venturing  to  run  their  beats;  and,  when  the  expedi 
tion  was  entirely  broken  up,  he  asked  one  of  the  leaders,  "  Why 
didn't  the  boys  go  ahead  ?  " 

But  such  duplicity  was  unusual ;  and  it  was  the  aim  of  the 
officers  of  the  Fourteenth,  certainly,  to  prevent  all  lawlessness. 
Their  success  in  the  matter  of  "  Old  Claggett's  "  rails,  however, 
was  somewhat  dubious.  Cold  weather  was  coming  on  when 
the  regiment  moved  from  Adder  Hill  to  Offatt's  Cross  Roads,  to 
construct  and  occupy  winter-quarters.  Across  the  plain,  within 
a  third  of  a  mile  of  the  proposed  camp,  ran  one  of  those  tall  and 
tempting  rail-fences  so  exasperating  to  the  experienced  soldier. 
Knapsacks  were  hardly  unslung  when  a  lively  charge  was  made 
on  that  fence.  A  half-mile  of  splendid  fence  vanished  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  But  "  Old  Claggett"  knew  his  points:  he 
had  an  elegant  brick  residence,  and  a  most  inviting  resort  for 
the  chief  officers.  He  was  a  shrewd  slave-owning  planter,  and 
understood  making  friends  of  the  mammon  of  Union  shoulder- 
straps.  Complaint  was  made  at  once,  but  the  ignorance  of  all 
the  under-officers  that  any  rails  had  been  taken  by  the  men  was 
as  remarkable  as  it  was  universal.  The  colonel  issued  the  most 
peremptory  orders  for  the  return  of  every  rail.  Then  was  wit 
nessed  a  curious  phenomenon.  When  the  command  was  fully 
understood,  it  took  so  long  to  penetrate  the  general  stupidity 
that  a  large  proportion  of  the  rails  were  cut  once  or  twice  in 
two  before  the  order  was  comprehended.  Those  rails  had  in 
creased  in  weight  amazingly.  When  they  were  lugged  into 
camp,  one  man  took  four  rails  at  one  trip  easily  to  the  rear  of 


OLD   CLAGGETTS  RAILS.  263 

his  tent  in  less  than  five  minutes'  time  ;  but,  in  replacing  them, 
it  required  two  men  fully  twenty  minutes  to  get  one  of  Clag- 
gett's  rails  back  to  where,  by  the  line  of  post-holes  remaining,  a 
fence  had  apparently  stood. 

Not  more  than  one-third  of  those  rails  were  recovered ;  and, 
when  the  irate  semi-Reb  owner  egged  on  the  colonel  to  investi 
gate  the  lineage  of  the  several  cords  of  broken  rails,  it  was 
ascertained  that  not  one  splinter  of  them  ever  came  from  Old 
ClaggefVs  plantation.  The  officers  seemed  to  be  satisfied,  but 
the  old  gentleman  never  appeared  quite  happy. 

Every  day  of  established  camp-life  witnessed  important  or 
trivial  adventures  of  one  or  more  men,  who  rarely  came  in  with 
empty  haversacks.  Sometimes  it  was  a  legitimate  dicker, 
sometimes  unparalleled  cheek,  oftener  the  sublime  audacity 
displayed  by  the  Yankee  soldier  in  his  exercise  of  the  right  of 
"eminent  domain."  One  evening  at  dress-parade,  the  colonel 
was  incensed  at  the  absence  of  several  of  the  drummers.  Before 
he  left  the  parade-ground,  three  of  the  delinquents  were  observed 
coming  into  camp.  Perceiving  that  they  were  observed,  they 
put  on  a  bold  front,  and  passed  quite  near  their  commanding 
officer.  Obsequiously  saluting,  the  spokesman  remarked,  sotto 
voce,  "  Colonel,  we  have  got  some  fine  pork  in  our  drums  here : 
shall  we  leave  a  nice  piece  at  your  tent  ?  "  Colonel,  in  a  loud 
and  severe  tone :  "  If  you  are  sick,  report  yourself  to  the  sur 
geon  ;  don't  come  round  here  troubling  me ! "  Some  of  that 
pork  was  placed  where  it  would  do  the  most  good. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  episodes,  with  its  complication  of 
ludicrous  results,  that  ever  entered  into  the  experience  of  the 
Fourteenth  Regiment,  occurred  on  the  forenoon  following  our 
arrival  at  Poolesville.  No  one  who  had  a  hand  in  the  mammoth 
raid  on  Walters's  store  can  ever  forget  the  wild  commotion,  the 
greedy  frenzy,  and  the  uncontrollable  tumult,  incident  to  the 
impetuous  attack  of  a  whole  battalion  on  a  large  and  well-fur 
nished  store,  filled  with  dry-goods,  provisions,  hardware,  grocer 
ies  —  dry,  and  the  wettest  of  wet.  Many  years  after  the  war, 
fine  dry-goods  taken  from  Walters's  store  were  seen  perambu 
lating  the  streets  of  a  New-Hampshire  city.  The  keeper  of  one 


264  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

of  the  stores  was  one  of  those  double-faced,  treacherous  Mary 
land  Rebels  who  professed  Unionism  by  day  and  entertained 
Moseby's  bushwhackers  by  night.  A  slight  mistake  was  made, 
as  we  shall  see  ;  but  the  regiment  was  altogether  too  hungry  and 
footsore  to  be  trifled  with.  A  shout,  a  rush,  a  crash  —  the  store 
was  open,  and  the  scrimmage  was  begun.  Flour,  whiskey, 
sugar,  calico,  and  molasses  were  mixed  up  in  novel  combina 
tions.  Barrels  of  molasses,  sugar,  and  whiskey  were  broken  up 
in  the  street,  though  fortunately  but  little  of  the  latter  was 
gathered  up.  The  scrambling  for  plunder  was  desperate  in  its 
recklessness,  but  the  individual  adventures  and  the  general 
spectacle  furnished  comicalities  for  a  volume. 

The  officers  somehow  learned  of  the  riot,  and  appeared  on  the 
scene  to  disperse  the  men  at  the  critical  moment ;  i.e.,  when  the 
store  had  been  completely  gutted,  and  nothing  remained  to  con 
fiscate.  Crackers,  flour,  cheese,  hams,  pork,  etc.,  were  pretty 
evenly  distributed  through  the  regiment ;  with  sugar,  raisins, 
and  other  choicer  groceries,  in  spots.  Whole  pieces  of  flannel, 
webs  of  cotton  cloth,  twenty,  thirty,  fifty  yards  of  calico,  dozens 
of  handkerchiefs  and  socks,  long  cuts  of  towelling,  and  patterns 
of  rich  dress-goods,  were  stowed  snugly  away  that  night  as  pil 
lows  for  privates'  bunks  in  the  old  brick  church.  The  officers, 
whose  integrity  was  loftier  than  that  of  the  rank  and  file,  never  • 
suspected  the  sources  of  supply  from  whence  came  the  abun 
dant  luxuries  of  their  mess  for  several  weeks  afterward;  and 
some  choice  textiles  obtained  from  their  men  they  never 
dreamed  to  have  been  evolved  from  that  reprobated  raid. 

Most  of  the  booty  was  a  burden  to  the  possessors;  and  the 
negroes  and  poor  whites  in  the  vicinity  drove  a  thriving  trade 
for  a  few  days,  the  men  being  glad  to  close  out  their  stock  of 
dry-goods  for  edibles.  A  good  deal  of  the  more  valuable  plun 
der  was  sent  home,  and  what  remained  afforded  fun  and  ex 
citement  in  possession  and  camp-trade  for  some  time.  The 
discomfited  trader  reported  his  loss  to  the  brigadier;  and  the 
colonel  was  ordered  to  investigate,  search,  produce  the  offenders, 
punish  summarily,  and  restore  every  thing  taken.  The  stern 
ness  of  the  officers  was  appalling.  They  had  just  eaten  a  hearty 


OLD  IIIGGINS.  265 

breakfast  well  seasoned  with  the  loot  from  Walters's  store,  and 
they  were  eager  for  the  meting-out  of  swift  retributive  justice. 
One  bag  of  flour,  half  a  ham,  seventeen  shoes  with  no  mates, 
and  a  long  roll  of  cheap  soiled  calico,  were  discovered  after  a 
half-day's  search ;  but  the  strangest  feature  of  the  investigation 
was,  that  the  valuable  goods  recovered  were  not  traced  to  any 
particular  criminal.  And  so  it  resulted  that  Walters  was  no 
happier  than  Claggett. 

There  was  a  cause  for  the  raid,  and  a  good  one,  although 
vengeance  fell  on  the  wrong  head.  Some  time  previous  to  the 
arrival  of  the  Fourteenth,  a  detachment  of  Scott's  "  Nine  Hun 
dred  "  had  been  quartered  in  the  church  elsewhere  mentioned. 
A  force  of  White's  cavalry  —  Maryland  guerillas  —  came  upon 
the  Union  detachment,  and  surprised  it,  killing  several.  It  was 
well  understood  that  "  Old  Higgins  "  —  owning  a  store  opposite 
to  Walters's  —  had  piloted  the  Rebel  cavalry.  Scott's  Nine 
Hundred  were  not  accurately  informed  as  to  the  guilty  trader ; 
but  when  they  arrived  in  Poolesville,  on  the  same  night  with 
the  Fourteenth,  there  was  burning  in  their  hearts  the  purpose 
of  the  avenger.  They  began  the  raid  participated  in  by  the 
Fourteenth.  "  Old  Higgins "  escaped,  while  Walters  was  in 
advertently  made  the  victim.  Walters  was  really  an  unflinch 
ing  Union  man,  and  afterward  recovered  four  thousand  dollars 
from  the  government. 

It  was  a  disconsolate  apple-vender  who  drove  his  ox-cart,  on 
its  return  trip  over  the  wide  stretch  of  rolling  plain,  the  parade- 
ground  of  the  Independent  Brigade,  one  crisp  morning  in  Janu 
ary,  1863.  He  took  a  load  of  apples  to  the  camp  of  the  Four 
teenth.  He  took  away  as  heavy  a  load  as  he  brought,  but  it 
was  in  the  form  of  experience ;  and  if  he  furnished  food  to  the 
boys  for  an  hour,  they  certainly  sent  him  away  with  food  for 
reflection  sufficient  to  keep  him  ruminating  long  afterward.  He 
backed  his  cart  up  to  the  line  upon  which  paced  the  guard  at 
"  support  arms."  There  was  a  fatality  in  that  halting  the  tail 
board  of  the  ox-cart  exactly  on  the  line.  Three  feet  outside 
would  have  spared  him  many  reflections.  Soon  a  score  of  men 
off  duty  lounged  up  to  the  peripatetic  apple-stand;  and  gradually 


266  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  gathering  swelled  to  a  sizable  crowd,  though  for  more  than 
an  hour  no  particular  interest  was  manifested  in  the  sale,  which 
proceeded  slowly,  the  paymaster  not  having  been  interviewed 
since  the  regiment  left  home.  Here  again  the  stars  were  in  a 
bad  conjunction  for  the  expected  gains  of  our  butternut-coated 
citizen  of  "  my  Maryland  ;  "  for,  had  the  men  been  well  in  funds, 
every  barrel  of  apples  would  have  been  sold  in  fifteen  minutes. 
The  only  scintilla  of  prudence  evinced  by  this  artless  tempter 
of  men,  whose  appetites  were  being  whetted  keener  for  a  good 
apple-eat  by  each  dozen  slowly  peddled  o  t,  was  in  his  opening 
but  one  barrel  at  a  time ;  and  so  strictly  did  "he  and  his  lank, 
sallow-faced  heir  attend  to  business,  that  the  sharpest  of  the 
boys  found  no  opening  for  the  confiscation  of  a  solitary  apple. 
The  proprietor  appeared  somewhat  disturbed  when  three  of  the 
heaviest  among  the  men  leisurely  climbed  on  to  the  rear  of  the 
cart ;  but  he  soon  grew  unconcerned,  as  were  two  of  the  com 
pany  who  became  interested  in  the  forward  mechanism  of  the 
two-wheeled  vehicle.  Soon  afterward  an  accident  occurred. 
That  farmer-peddler  has  presumably  never  ceased  to  wonder  how 
he  could  have  ventured  from  home  with  the  forward  end  of  his 
cart  not  fastened  down.  At  any  rate,  the  cart  tipped;  down 
came  the  heavy  weights,  apples  and  all.  Then  a  rush,  a  yell, 
and  a  terrific  scramble.  The  apples  from  the  opened  barrels 
were  instantly  churned  deep  into  the  adhesive  mud.  Another 
barrel  was  burst  open ;  and  the  fabled  fruit  of  Hesperides  was 
more  easily  captured  by  Hercules  than  were  those  mud-plastered 
apples  by  the  surging  crowd,  now  wild  with  fun,  and  with 
mouths  made  up  for  a  jolly  fruit  banquet.  Hats  were  doffed, 
and  used  as  scoops  to  capture  the  dubious  booty.  Two  stout 
Company-C  men  seized  a  full  barrel^  and,  rushing  through  the 
crowd,  secured  the  prize  in  a  company  tent.  The  unfortunate 
trafficker  with  the  "mudsill  minions  "  appeared  to  have  lost  all 
interest  in  hanging  about  there ;  and  he  seemed  happy  to  get 
off  with  his  team  and  two  empty  barrels.  The  boys  merrily 
invited  him  to  call  again,  but  his  parting  look 

"  Resembled  pleasure  only 

As  the  mist  resembles  the  rain." 


RATION  DICKER.  267 

A  sort  of  foraging  more  satisfactory  to  one  of  the  parties 
concerned  was  practised  extensively  throughout  the  war.  The 
Union  soldier  traded  his  surplus  coffee,  sugar,  and  salt,  for  such 
provisions  as  were  luxuries  in  the  army.  In  this  way  both  sides 
were  greatly  benefited.  This  "swapping"  went  so  far  that 
opposing  pickets  of  the  two  great  armies  frequently  exchanged 
coffee  and  sugar  for  tobacco.  The  dread  scourge  of  war  had 
laid  its  devastating  blight  upon  the  rich  Valley  of  the  Shenan- 
doah  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  ;  and  wherever  an  invading 
army  left  a  track,  there  nearly  every  article  of  subsistence  was 
swept  into  the  insatiate  maw  of  a  lean  commissariat.  When 
both  Union  and  Rebel  armies  conducted  themselves  as  invaders, 
being  merciless  in  requisition  and  confiscation  of  supplies,  the 
inhabitants  of  that  unhappy  region  were  cursed  beyond  almost 
any  section  of  the  South.  Raids,  sorties,  imposing  invasions, 
and  campaigns  subsidiary  to  the  central  strategy,  turned  the 
Valley  into  a  military  chess-board.  The  game  was  a  desperate 
one  always,  fluctuating  in  its  temporary  successes,  and,  on  the 
whole,  a  losing  one  to  both  sides,  up  to  August,  1864  ;  when 
Sheridan  played  a  Union  game  which  first  puzzled,  then  be 
wildered,  and  finally  routed  and  ruined,  the  Rebel  forces  in  the 
Shenandoah. 

The  Valley  was  aptly  termed  the  granary  of  the  Confederacy, 
and  this  partially  accounted  for  the  Rebel  tenacity  of  endeavor 
to  maintain  possession.  When  Sheridan's  army  began  its  move 
ments  against  Early,  the  lower  portion  of  the  Valley  was  so 
thoroughly  wasted  that  foraging  was  an  unprofitable  venture  for 
the  "  Yankee  bummers."  But  above  Strasburg  the  Rebel  forces 
had  for  some  time  maintained  almost  undisputed  possession,  in 
a  good  measure  conserving  the  private  property  of  its  sympa 
thizers  ;  for  hardly  a  home  but  contributed  from  one  to  half  a 
dozen  recruits  to  the  legions  of  the  lost  cause.  We  found  a 
good  deal  in  the  Valley  to  confiscate,  despite  the  wholesale  and 
repeated  plundering  to  which  the  inhabitants  had  been  subjected; 
although  an  astonishing  ingenuity  was  displayed  in  concealing 
every  thing  that  a  Yankee  might  covet.  Those  sections  of 
Sheridan's  army  which  marched  up  the  Valley  at  some  distance 


268  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

from  the  pike  and  the  more  frequented  roads,  were  fortunate  in 
picking  up  considerable  extra  subsistence ;  a  partial  compensa 
tion  for  the  audacious  robberies  perpetrated  by  Moseby's  gueril 
las,  who  cut  off  our  supply-trains  wherever  the  strictest  vigilance 
was  for  an  hour  relaxed,  —  in  one  instance  cutting  out  forty 
wagons  from  the  middle  of  a  five-mile  supply-train  while  the 
front  and  rear  drivers  were  in  utter  ignorance  of  the  attack. 
The  foraging  triumphs  on  the  Union  side  inspirited  the  army, 
and  gave  zest  to  every  phase  of  the  campaign.  Similar  adven 
tures,  and  a  like  exhilaration  of  Sherman's  army,  during  its 
march  to  the  sea,  are  well  expressed  in  the  following  stanza :  — 

"  How  the  darkies  shouted  when  they  heard  the  joyful  sound! 
How  the  turkeys  gobbled  which  our  commissary  found! 
How  the  sweet  potatoes,  even  started  from  the  ground! 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia." 

One  of  the  first  foraging  ventures  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  in 
the  Valley  was  during  a  halt  for  dinner.  A  keen-scented  pio 
neer  among  the  foragers  discovered  an  apiary  filled  with  hives, 
containing  a  large  quantity  of  honey.  It  was  "  a  terrible  temp 
tation,"  and  his  shout  of  discovery  prompted  a  general  stam 
pede  of  men  who  thought  a  moment  before  that  they  could  not 
stir  a  foot  farther  without  a  protracted  rest.  And  then  in  view 
of  an  entire  division  of  the  army  was  enacted  a  side-splitting 
comedy,  rousing  the  merriment  of  a  whole  column.  Each  of 
half  a  dozen  stalwart  troopers  had  shouldered  a  hive,  and  more 
than  a  thousand  others  were  striving  for  what  remained.  It 
was  observed  that  the  successful  hive-hunters  were  very  busy 
with  their  hands,  beating  the  air;  and  the  motions  grew  more 
eccentric  and  furious.  One  of  them  uttered  a  wail,  then  sent 
out  an  infuriated  yell,  and,  hurling  his  treasure  to  the  ground, 
plunged  blindly  into  the  crowd  of  bewildered  soldiers  eager  for 
the  sweets  still  unrevealed.  The  other  loaded  invaders  of  the 
apiary  directly  ascertained  that  their  boxes  were  too  heavy  for 
transportation,  and  they  abandoned  their  prizes  to  mother  earth. 
Millions  of  bees  appeared  to  be  in  the  air ;  and  with  a  general 
howl  of  pain  and  rage  the  precipitate  honey-hunters  scattered, 


THE  REBEL   GOOSE.  269 

a  heavy  detail  of  angered  bees  in  full  chase  of  every  victim, 
and  putting  in  telling  strokes.  The  unfortunates  fell  into  the 
ranks  in  an  inglorious  plight,  the  butt  of  the  entire  army  so  far 
as  they  had  been  observed. 

While  the  troops  were  encamped  for  a  day  near  Charlestown, 
three  adventurers  from  the  Fourteenth  visited  the  hennery  of 
an  estate  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town.  Just  as  they  were  stock 
ing  up  for  a  return  to  the  bivouac,  Ashby,  with  a  guard  of 
Rebel  cavalry,  rode  up  to  stop  for  the  night.  Until  morning 
were  these  trembling  Yankees  imprisoned  in  a  Rebel  hen-house, 
nor  did  they  dare  venture  out  until  the  troopers  in  gray  had 
disappeared.  Many  of  the  valley  farmers  had  finished  their 
sorghum-molasses  manufacture  previous  to  the  Union  advance. 
A  barrel  of  sorghum  was  soon  disposed  of.  Canteens  and  cups 
were  filled ;  men  ate  until  nauseated ;  in  their  greed  the  sticky 
treacle  dripped  everywhere,  smearing  clothing  from  head  to 
foot,  gluing  beard  and  dust  in  remarkable  compounds,  slop 
ping,  spilling,  running :  sorghum  left  its  imprint  on  thousands 
of  highly  flavored  and  thoroughly  sweetened  defenders  of  the 
Union.  It  was  u  linked  sweetness  long  drawn  out." 

We  are  informed  that  the  cackling  of  a  goose  in  the  temple 
saved  Rome.  One  Rebel  planter  in  the  valley  should  have  sent 
his  poultry  for  schooling  to  the  Roman  goose,  for  the  untimely 
cackle  of  a  single  hen  precipitated  a  fowl  calamity  upon  that 
estate.  Discerning  the  approach  of  the  Union  vanguard,  this 
wily  husbandman  had  gathered  his  goodly  stock  of  poultry  into 
a  large,  tight  out-building,  and  closed  it  securely.  The  right 
column  of  the  army,  being  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  marched  be 
tween  this  improvised  hennery  and  the  larger  barn.  Two-thirds 
of  the  column  had  passed,  and  so  well  had  the  owner  accom 
plished  his  work  of  seclusion  that  not  one  foraging  detective 
had  mistrusted  the  existence  of  a  fowl  on  the  estate.  Precisely 
as  the  centre  of  the  Fourteenth  arrived  opposite  the  hennery,  a 
single  fatal  cackle  ruined  the  Thanksgiving  expectations  of  that 
planter,  and  sealed  the  doom  of  about  fifty  fowls.  No  time  was 
lost  in  preliminaries.  Down  came  the  door;  there  was  no 
shouting,  and  little  noise  save  the  furious  cackling  inside  :  but 


270  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

ten  times  as  many  hungry  men  were  determined  to  get  into 
that  hen-house  as  it  would  contain,  and  the  coveted  poultry 
was  quickly  divided.  So  hastil}7"  was  the  irregular  allotment 
consummated,  that  in  several  instances  two  men  got  hold  of  one 
pullet,  and  neither  let  go  nor  went  away  empty-handed.  The 
column  moved  right  on,  but  there  was  many  a  choice  bit  of 
broiled  chicken  that  night  round  the  camp-fires  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps.  Pigs,  sheep,  and  even  young  beeves,  were  occa 
sionally  brought  in,  though  such  booty  in  the  Valley  was  rare. 

A  choice  element  in  foraging  was  the  excitement  of  its  peril, 
and  this  factor  was  generally  involved  in  every  venture  after 
extra  diet  during  an  active  campaign.  Our  boys  were  venture 
some  even  to  recklessness,  with  no  prospective  gain  commensu 
rate  to  the  risk.  On  the  afternoon  before  the  battle  of  Fisher's 
Hill,  when  the  two  armies  were  in  line  but  a  mile  apart,  and 
while  a  sharp  skirmish  was  going  on  in  full  view  of  both  com 
batants,  half  a  dozen  of  the  Fourteenth  sallied  out  to  recon 
noitre  a  vineyard  between  the  two  lines.  They  accomplished 
this  venture ;  and,  by  exposing  themselves  to  both  capture  and 
death,  secured  —  a  few  quarts  of  grapes.  And  that  fruit  was 
richer  and  more  delicious  than  the  grapes  of  Eshcol.  The  in 
stances  cited  are  few,  yet  fairly  representative  of  the  numberless 
episodes  in  the  histor,y  of  every  regiment ;  and  such  daring 
exploits  are  not  among  the  first  which  the  veteran  will  care  to 
have  obliterated  from  his  recollections  of  the  Great  Rebellion. 


A  point  had  been  reached  where  Sheridan  encountered  a  per 
plexing  problem,  and  must  make  an  important  decision.  Should 
he  advance,  or  retire  ?  A  mere  holding  of  his  own  would  prove 
barren  in  results,  and  all  the  Union  troops  were  needed  for 
aggressive  operations.  A  small  force,  probably  Crook's,  must 
remain  to  guard  the  Potomac.  One  course  was  to  advance  on 
Brown's  Gap,  try  to  drive  Early  out,  and  then  proceed  with  the 
Sixth  and  Nineteenth  Corps  to  Gordonsville,  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge.  But  should  this  be  accomplished,  and  should  Grant's 
army  around  Petersburg  fail  to  hold  the  entire  Army  of  North- 


A   PERPLEXING  ALTERNATIVE.  271 

ern  Virginia,  Lee  could  suddenly  hurl,  by  rail,  a  sufficient  force 
upon  Sheridan  to  utterly  crush  him.  Again,  the  army-trains 
moving  up  and  down  the  Valley  from  Martinsburg  or  Harper's 
Ferry  could  not  supply  the  army  any  farther  up  than  Harrison- 
burg. 

The  conclusion  of  Sheridan  was  to  let  the  Valley  campaign 
end  at  Harrisonburg,  withdraw  down  the  Valley,  destroy  all 
forage,  grain,  etc.,  give  up  his  command,  and  move  the  Sixth 
and  Nineteenth  Corps  to  the  lines  of  Petersburg.  Fortunate 
would  it  have  proved  for  the  redoubtable  Early,  had  he  cor 
dially  co-operated  with  Little  Phil  in  carrying  out  this  plan. 
But  he  felt  strong  and  confident  again.  He  declares  that  he 
intended  to  fight  the  Union  army  at  Harrisonburg,  but  that,  on 
the  morning  of  the  6th,  he  found  it  had  left  town. 

On  the  morning  of  October  6,  Sheridan  stretched  his  cavalry 
across  the  entire  Valley,  from  the  Blue  Ridge  to  the  Allegha- 
nies,  with  orders  to  make  of  the  entire  country  a  barren  waste  ; 
no  dwelling-house  to  be  disturbed ;  all  loyal  men  to  be  paid  for 
property  destroyed.  At  the  same  time  the  whole  army  took  up 
its  march  northward,  down  the  Valley.  The  march  was  made 
by  easy  marches,  very  comfortably. 

The  Ninth  Conn.,  which  reached  the  army  at  Harrisonburg, 
after  its  inaction  during  the  battle  of  the  Opequan,  was  ordered 
to  march  in  the  rear  of  the  army.  Early's  cavalry  followed  at 
a  safe  distance  until  Woodstock  was  reached,  where  they  be 
came  aggressive,  pushing  Custer  as  far  as  Tom's  Run,  just  south 
of  Fisher's  Hill.  Here,  on  the  8th,  Sheridan  told  Torbert  to 
"go  in"  and  whip  the  pursuers,  and  he  would  halt  the  infantry 
to  see  him  do  it.  The  Fourteenth  will  remember  being  halted, 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  9th,  and  formed  in  line  to  the  left  of  the 
pike,  facing  up  the  Valley,  and  there  waiting  while  a  brisk  fir 
ing  was  heard  a  little  farther  on.  It  was  a  neat  tilt  at  Tom's 
Run ;  and  the  Rebels  ran,  Sheridan's  cavalry  capturing  every 
gun  (eleven)  but  one,  and  every  thing  else  on  wheels,  and  chas 
ing  the  Johnnies  back  to  Mount  Jackson,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
six  miles.  Early's  infantry  was  at  Newmarket,  having  reached 
there  on  the  7th. 


272  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

On  the  10th  the  army  marched  to  the  celebrated  position  on 
Cedar  Creek ;  with  the  exception  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  which 
deviated  to  the  right,  to  Front  Royal,  on  its  way  to  join  Grant's 
army.  On  the  12th  that  corps  moved  to  the  Ashby-Gap  cross 
ing  of  the  Shenandoah,  intending  to  proceed  via  Washington. 

Early  had  learned  of  Sheridan's  intention  of  sending  away  a 
portion  of  his  force,  and  promptly  moved  back  to  his  old  posi 
tion  on  Fisher's  Hill,  arriving  there  on  the  13th.  The  armies 
were  very  near  each  other.  In  consequence  of  Early's  aggres 
siveness  the  Sixth  Corps  was  recalled,  and  took  position  011  the 
right  of  the  Nineteenth. 

On  the  13th  Gen.  Sheridan  was  called  to  Washington  by 
Secretary  Stanton,  to  engage  in  a  consultation.  On  the  15th 
he  started,  taking  Torbert's  whole  cavalry  force  with  him  to 
Front  Royal,  intending  to  make  it  active  to  the  eastward  dur 
ing  his  absence.  When  he  arrived  at  Front  Royal,  on  the  night 
of  the  16th,  he  received  a  despatch  from  Gen.  Wright,  who  had 
been  left  in  command  of  the  army,  enclosing  another  despatch 
read  off  from  the  Rebel  signals  on  Three-Top  Mountain.  In 
this  despatch  Gen.  Wright  says  he  fears  an  attack  only  on  his 
right,  which  may  be  turned  by  a  strong  force  of  cavalry.  The 
following  was  the  despatch  sent  by  Longstreet  to  Early :  — 

"  Be  ready  to  move  as  soon  as  my  forces  join  you,  and  we  will  crush 
Sheridan." 

The  latter  abandoned  his  cavalry-raid,  and  sent  the  whole 
force  back  to  Wright ;  at  the  same  time  sending  him  the  follow 
ing  note  :  — 

"  GENERAL,  —  The  cavalry  is  all  ordered  back  to  you:  make  your  position 
strong.  If  Longstreet's  despatch  is  true,  he  is  under  the  impression  that  we 
have  largely  detached.  I  will  go  over  to  Augur,  and  may  get  additional 
news. 

"  Close  in  Gen.  Powell,  who  will  be  at  this  point.  If  the  enemy  should 
make  an  advance,  I  know  you  will  defeat  him.  Look  well  to  your  ground, 
and  be  well  prepared.  Get  up  every  thing  that  can  be  spared.  I  will  bring 
up  all  I  can,  and  will  be  up  on  Tuesday,  if  not  sooner." 

One  important  fact  should  be  borne  in  mind  :  Gen.  Powell 
was  not  "  closed  in."  Sheridan's  precautions  were  not  fully 


BELLE   GROVE. 
Sheridan's    Headquarter*: 


A    SPLENDID  PARADOX.  .  273 

enforced.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th  Sheridan  arrived  in 
Washington.  The  same  day  at  noon  he  started  on  his  return 
via  Martinsburg,  reaching  Winchester  on  the  evening  of  the 
18th. 

Early  had  made  a  reconnoissance  quite  near  to  the  Union 
position  on  the  13th,  and  at  the  same  time  a  small  force  of 
Union  troops  was  reconnoitring.  A  collision  ensued,  with  some 
smart  Rebel  battery  practice,  when  a  division  of  our  army  moved 
out ;  but  the  Rebels  rather  got  the  best  of  it,  and  our  force  was 
withdrawn.  There  was  a  smart  fight  on  hand  for  a  while,  with 
the  strong  prospect  of  a  general  engagement. 

BATTLE  OP  CEDAR  CREEK. 

We  now  approach  one  of  the  most  singular  events  of  the 
whole  war,  the  most  remarkable  struggle  of  modern  times.  In 
numerous  other  cases  battles  have  apparently  been  lost,  yet 
eventually  won ;  but  where  is  there  a  parallel  to  Cedar  Creek, 
or  Belle  Grove  as  Early  terms  it?  An  army  surprised  in  the 
night,  beaten,  routed,  driven  from  the  field,  losing  most  of  its 
cannon  and  all  of  its  camp  paraphernalia,  many  of  its  frightened 
fragments  fleeing  more  than  a  dozen  miles :  yet  on  the  same 
day,  with  a  re-enforcement  of  only  one  man,  fighting  against 
more  troops  than  whipped  them  in  the  morning,  engaging  in  a 
stubborn  contest,  setting  back  the  current  of  defeat,  driving  the 
victims  pell-mell  from  the  conquered  field,  turning  their  defeat 
into  flight  and  an  exultant  Rebel  host  into  a  humiliated, 
uncontrollable  herd  of  uniformed  fugitives ;  capturing  all  the 
enemy's  guns,  besides  recapturing  every  gun  of  their  own ; 
camping  in  the  old  lines  at  night ;  finally  scourging  with  the 
last  terrible  and  irresistible  besom  of  war  the  armies  of  rebellion 
forever  from  the  fair  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah  ? 

Such  was  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  in  which  our  gallant 
Phil  Sheridan  won  imperishable  renown,  and  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment  bore  a  conspicuous  and  honorable  part.  And  this  is 
the  way  in  which  it  happened  :  — 

Wright  had  posted  all  the  cavalry  on  the  right  of  the  army, 


274  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  there  Sheridan  did  not  much  fear  an  attack.  About  the 
16th  Early  secured  an  accurate  sketch  of  the  Union  camps,  and 
also  re-established  his  observation  and  signal  station  on  the  end 
of  Massanutten  Mountain,  overlooking  the  Union  lines.  Ac 
cording  to  Early's  account,  he  was  forced  by  lack  of  subsistence 
to  fight,  or  fall  back,  —  the  work  of  destruction  was  telling  on 
the  situation ;  and  so  he  determined  to  surprise  Sheridan.  He 
pretends  to  utter  ignorance  of  Sheridan's  absence,  and  that  he 
gave  orders  on  the  morning  of  the  attack  to  capture  him  if  pos 
sible.  The  fact  was,  that  the  wily  general  knew  exactly  when 
Sheridan  left  for  Winchester,  but  doubtless  did  not  know 
exactly  when  he  was  to  return.  Probably  he  has,  for  eighteen 
years,  wished  that  he  had  never  come  into  possession  of  the 
latter  bit  of  knowledge. 

Early  started  a  surprise-party  which  has  furnished  him  food 
for  astonishing  reflections  ever  since.  As  soon  as  Sheridan 
left  camp,  the  Rebel  commander  began  his  preparations ;  and  it 
was  a  splendid  piece  of  strategy,  whoever  originated  it.  The 
writer  has  been  recently  informed  by  ex-Rebel  officers  that  the 
credit  was  not  due  to  Early.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  strategy 
and  the  tactics  were  of  a  character  which  deserved  success ;  and, 
had  they  triumphed,  they  would  have  formed,  perhaps,  the 
most  brilliant  achievement  of  the  war. 

Many  reasons  have  been  assigned  for  the  failure  of  ulti 
mate  triumph  by  the  Rebel  army ;  while  the  most  important 
factor,  next  to  the  arrival  of  Sheridan,  has  been  overlooked. 

The  enemy  left  his  trenches  during  the  night  of  the  18th, 
advancing  in  four  columns :  Gordon,  on  the  enemy's  right,  to 
attack  in  rear  of  our  left ;  Kershaw,  to  attack  Crook  in  front ; 
Wharton,  to  form  on  Hupp's  Hill  for  a  front  attack  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps ;  Rosser,  to  proceed  by  the  back  road,  and  attack 
the  cavalry  on  our  right.  The  impression  that  the  Rebel  sur 
prise  and  attack  was  wholly  made  in  rear  of  our  left  is  erro 
neous.  The  first  surprise  was  in  front  —  of  Crook's  position.  A 
second  surprise  followed  when  Gordon  appeared  in  rear  of  the 
Union  left. 

It  must  be  conceded  that  Early  "took  time  by  the  forelock;" 


A   FEW  DISTANCES.  275 

but  precisely  what  hold  he  had  of  "  time  "  just  before  he  let  go 
entirely,  twenty  hours  later,  he  has  never  informed  us. 

An  intelligent  study  of  the  battle  requires  an  appreciation  of 
the  distances  involved  in  this  remarkable  piece  of  strategy. 
The  distance  from  Sheridan's  position  on  Cedar  Creek  to  Early 's 
on  Fisher's  Hill  was  five  and  one-third  miles.  The  Union  line 
from  Crook  on  the  left  to  Averill  on  the  right  extended  three 
and  three-fifths  miles.  From  the  breastworks  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps  to  the  bridge  where  the  pike  crosses  Cedar  Creek 
was  one  thousand  yards.  Crook  was  one  and  one-sixth  miles 
in  advance  of  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  across  the  pike 
and  extending  almost  a  mile  to  the  left  of  it ;  his  second  division 
being  more  than  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  of  this  position,  the  first 
division  only  occupying  the  breastworks.  Gordon  marched 
nearly  eight  miles  in  reaching  his  position  in  our  rear.  When 
he  was  formed  for  the  attack,  he  was  one  and  one-sixth  miles  in 
the  rear  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  and  fifteen  hundred  yards  to 
the  left  of  the  pike.  Kershaw  formed  on  this  side  of  Cedar 
Creek,  just  above  its  mouth,  eight  hundred  and  forty  yards  in 
front  of  Crook's  breastworks.  Hupp's  Hill,  where  Wharton 
began  the  attack  with  artillery  upon  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  was 
across  the  deep  ravine  through  which  flowed  Cedar  Creek,  a 
little  over  nine  hundred  yards  distant.  The  Fourteenth,  which 
was  on  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  in  the  front  line  occu 
pying  the  breastworks,  was  nine  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of 
the  pike,  and  one  thousand  yards  from  the  pike  in  the  left  rear 
where  Gordon  swept  across  it  in  his  early  onset.  Just  in  the 
rear  of  the  second  division  was  the  first  division  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps,  forming  a  second  line  but  with  no  intrench ments. 
The  right  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  extended  nearly  to  the 
ravine  through  which  ran  Meadow  Brook,  six  hundred  yards 
to  the  right  of  the  Fourteenth's  position.  Across  that  ravine, 
nine  hundred  yards  distant,  was  the  left  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  In 
the  Belle  Grove  Mansion,  six  hundred  and  seventy-five  yards 
to  the  right  rear  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment's  position,  were 
the  headquarters  of  Sheridan.  Middletown  was  a  little  less  than 
two  miles  from  the  position  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps. 


276  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  ' 

Probably  no  army  turned  into  its  blankets  with  a  more  per 
fect  feeling  of  security  than  that  which  possessed  Sheridan's 
troops  on  the  night  of  October  18.  There  was  'the  perfect 
confidence  that  Early  had  been  so  gloriously  whipped  that  he 
would  never  dare  attack  the  Union  force  then  in  the  Valley, 
and  that  his  only  purpose  was  to  maintain  a  strong  defensive. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  he  "  played  it  on  the  Yanks  "  that 
morning;  but  we  always  remember  in  that  connection  that  "he 
laughs  loudest  who  laughs  last." 

Let  us  now  steal  into  the  hostile  camp,  and  follow  their  move 
ments.  The  following  is  Early 's  account  of  the  surprise,  and, 
in  the  essential  particulars,  is  perhaps  as  near  accurate  and 
truthful  as  Early  was  capable  of  being  when  writing  the  history 
of  his  defeats  :  — 

"Gordon  was  directed  to  cross  over  into  the  bend  of  the  river  imme 
diately  after  dark,  and  move  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  he  would 
rest  his  troops,  and  move  from  there  in  time  to  cross  the  river  again,  and  get 
in  position  at  Cooley's  house,  in  the  enemy's  rear,  so  as  to  make  the  attack 
at  the  designated  hour;  and  he  was  instructed,  in  advancing  to  the  attack, 
to  move  for  a  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  valley  pike  called  the  *  Belle 
Grove  House,'  at  which  it  was  known  that  Sheridan's  headquarters  were 
located.  .  .  .  Rosser  was  ordered  to  move  before  day,  in  time  to  attack  at 
five  o'clock  next  morning,  and  to  endeavor  to  surprise  the  enemy's  cavalry 
in  camp.  Kershaw  and  Wharton  were  ordered  to  move  at  one  o'clock  in 
the  morning  towards  Strasburg,  under  my  personal  superintendence;  and 
the  artillery  was  ordered  to  concentrate  where  the  pike  passed  through  the 
lines  at  Fisher's  Hill,  and,  at  the  hour  appointed  for  the  attack,  to  move  at 
a  gallop  to  Hupp's  Hill,  —  the  movement  of  the  artillery  being  thus  delayed 
for  fear  of  attracting  the  attention  of  the  enemy  by  the  rumbling  of  the 
wheels  over  the  macadamized  road.  Swords  and  canteens  were  directed  to 
be  left  in  camp,  so  as  to  make  as  little  noise  as  possible.  The  division  com 
manders  were  particularly  admonished  as  to  the  necessity  for  promptness 
and  energy  in  all  their  movements;  and  they  were  instructed  to  press  the 
enemy  with  vigor  after  he  was  encountered,  and  to  allow  him  no  time  to 
form,  but  to  continue  the  pursuit  until  his  forces  should  be  completely 
routed.  They  were  also  admonished  of  the  danger  to  be  apprehended  from 
a  disposition  to  plunder  the  enemy's  camps  by  their  men,  and  they  were 
enjoined  to  take  every  possible  precaution  against  it.  ... 

"At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  Kershaw  and  Wharton 
moved,  and  I  accompanied  them.  At  Strasburg,  Kershaw  moved  to  the 
right  on  the  road  to  Bowman's  mil]  ;  and  Wharton  moved  along  the  pike 


EARLY'S  STORY.  277 

to  Hupp's  Hill,  with  instructions  not  to  display  his  forces,  but  avoid  the 
enemy's  notice  until  the  attack  began,  when  he  was  to  move  forward,  sup 
port  the  artillery  when  it  came  up,  and  send  a  force  to  get  possession  of  the 
bridge  on  the  pike  over  the  creek.  I  accompanied  Kershaw's  division,  and 
we  got  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  fires  at  half-past  three  o'clock.  The  moon 
was  now  shining,  and  we  could  see  the  camps.  The  division  was  halted 
under  cover  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  proper  time;  and  I  pointed  out  to 
Kershaw  and  the  commander  of  his  leading  brigade  the  enemy's  position, 
and  described  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  directed  them  how  the  attack 
was  to  be  made  and  followed  up.  Kershaw  was  directed  to  cross  his  divis 
ion  over  the  creek  as  quietly  as  possible,  and  to  form  it  into  column  of 
brigades  as  he  did  so,  and  advance  in  that  manner  against  the  enemy's  left 
breastwork,  extending  to  the  right  or  left  as  might  be  necessary.  At  half- 
past  four  he  was  ordered  forward;  and,  a  very  short  time  after  he  started, 
the  firing  from  Rosser  on  our  left,  and  the  picket-firing  at  the  ford  at 
which  Gordon  was  crossing,  were  heard.  Kershaw  crossed  the  creek  with 
out  molestation,  and  formed  his  division  as  directed;  and  precisely  at  five 
o'clock  his  leading  brigade,  with  little  opposition,  swept  over  the  enemy's 
left  work,  capturing  seven  guns,  which  were  at  once  turned  on  the  enemy. 
As  soon  as  this  attack  was  made,  I  rode  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the  position 
on  Hupp's  Hill  to  which  Wharton  and  the  artillery  had  been  ordered.  I 
found  the  artillery  just  arriving,  and  a  very  hea*vy  fire  of  musketry  was  now 
heard  in  the  enemy's  rear  from  Gordon's  column.  Wharton  had  advanced 
his  skirmishers  to  the  creek,  capturing  some  prisoners;  but  the  enemy  still 
held  the  works  on  our  left  of  the  pike,  commanding  that  road  and  the  bridge, 
and  opened  with  his  artillery  on  us.  Our  artillery  was  immediately  brought 
into  action,  and  opened  on  the  enemy;  but  he  soon  evacuated  his  works,  and 
our  men  from  the  other  columns  rushed  into  them.  Just  then  the  sun  rose, 
and  Wharton's  division  and  the  artillery  were  immediately  ordered  forward. 
I  rode  in  advance  of  them  across  the  creek,  and  met  Gen.  Gordon  on  the 
opposite  hill.  Kershaw's  division  had  swept  along  the  enemy's  works  on 
the  right  of  the  pike,  which  were  occupied  by  Crook's  corps;  and  he  and 
Gordon  had  united  at  the  pike,  and  their  divisions  had  pushed  across  it  in 
pursuit  of  the  enemy.  The  rear  division  of  Gordon's  column  (Pegram's) 
was  crossing  the  river  at  the  time  Kershaw's  attack  was  made;  and  Gen. 
Gordon  moved  rapidly  to  Cooley's  house,  formed  his  troops,  and  advanced 
against  the  enemy  with  his  own  division  on  the  left,  under  Brig.-Gen.  Evans, 
and  Ramseur's  on  the  right,  with  Pegram's  in  the  rear  supporting  them. 
There  had  been  a  delay  of  an  hour  at  the  river  before  crossing  it,  either 
from  a  miscalculation  of  time  in  the  dark,  or  because  the  cavalry  which  was 
to  precede  his  column  had  not  gotten  up;  and  the  delay  thus  caused,  for 
which  no  blame  is  to  be  attached  to  Gen.  Gordon,  enabled  the  enemy  par 
tially  to  form  his  lines  after  the  alarm  produced  by  Kershaw's  attack,  and 
Gordon's  attack,  which  was  after  light,  was  therefore  met  with  greater  obstinacy 


278  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

by  the  enemy  than  it  would  otherwise  have  encountered,  and  th*  fighting  had 
been  severe.  Gordon,  however,  pushed  his  attack  with  great  energy;  and  the 
Nineteenth  and  Crook's  corps  were  in  complete  rout,  and  their  camps,  with 
a  number  of  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  small  arms, 

abandoned." 

i 

Early's  vigilance,  while  almost  marvellous,  was  not  perfect. 
Some  suspicions  were  aroused,  but  none  at  all  of  his  real  intent. 
Some  unusual  movement  of  Rebel  troops  was  observed,  but 
evidently  Gen.  Wright  was  not  in  the  slightest  degree  alarmed. 
Enough  was  seen  of  the  Rebel  stir  to  warrant  a  reconnoissance, 
and  the  second  division  of  the  Nineteenth  was  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

At  a  little  after  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  battle, 
this  division  was  quietly  aroused ;  and  the  men  cooked  their 
coffee  and  had  breakfast.  At  half-past  four  the  Fourteenth 
was  standing  in  line  under  arms  behind  the  breastworks.  Capt. 
Ripley  had  just  sent  an  officer  to  brigade  headquarters  to  report 
that  the  Fourteenth  was  in  line  ready  to  move,  when  a  scatter 
ing  volley  of  musketry  was  heard  away  to  the  left,  and  appar 
ently  somewhat  to  the  rear,  although  it  sounded  far  in  the 
distance,  yet  quite  distinct.  To  say  it  was  a  startling  sound,  is 
to  feebly  describe  the  effect  upon  the  men.  Still  there  was  not 
the  semblance  of  alarm.  The  first  division  was  not  awakened. 

The  attention  of  the  men,  for  the  moment  diverted,  was  again 
concentrated  upon  the  impending  reconnoissance,  and  the  excite 
ment  of  the  alarm  was  ceasing;  when,  within  about  ten  minutes 
from  the  first  shots,  another  alarm,  unmistakable,  portentous, 
prolonged,  sounded  out  the  prophecy  of  disaster. 

The  writer  happened  to  be  looking  toward  the  left  and  front 
at  the  moment  when  Kershaw's  brigades  dashed  over  the  breast 
works  into  Crook's  camp;  and  he  saw  the  first  musket-flashes 
as  the  Rebel  advance  fired  into  the  tents  of  the  sleeping  men. 
Crook's  second  division  had  fifteen  minutes'  warning,  and  made 
a  brief  show  of  resistance. 

Directly  after  the  first  volley  there  came,  borne  on  the  morn 
ing  air,  a  faint  Rebel  yell ;  and  we  knew  that  Early's  host  was 
upon  us.  Then,  at  the  point  of  attack,  there  ensued  an  ominous 
silence,  and  there  was  a  long  pause. 


BIRGE    TO   THE  FRONT.  279 

In  the  Nineteenth  Corps  all  was  alarm,  but  no  confusion; 
certainly  none  in  the  second  division.  The  men  were  all  under 
arms;  but  no  one  knew  what  to  do,  and  the  battalions  stood 
motionless  and  expectant.  There  was  no  fog,  but  daylight  had 
not  fully  come.  No  enemy  appeared  in  sight,  and  the  presence 
of  Gordon  in  our  rear  was  not  suspected. 

The  worst  apprehension  was,  that  Crook  had  been  attacked. 
In  about  twenty  minutes  from  the  attack  on  Crook's  camp,  a 
battery  of  artillery  opened  upon  the  Nineteenth  Corps  from  its 
front.  It  was  Wharton  on  Hupp's  Hill.  Almost  simultaneously 
our  guns  in  the  breastworks  at  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps 
got  to  work  as  Early  indicates. 

We  were  in  a  battle,  the  fight  was  warming  up ;  and  yet  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  could  see  no  foe,  and  was  unable  to  discover 
from  what  quarter  to  expect  an  attack. 

Just  then  Gen.  Birge  and  staff  rode  rapidly  to  the  front,  a 
little  to  the  left  of  the  Fourteenth;  his  errand  being  to  discover 
an  enemy,  and  to  understand  the  situation.  As  he  was  riding 
up  we  saw  one  of  Wharton's  shells  drop  in  the  midst  of  his 
staff,  almost  under  the  general's  horse,  and  explode.  Strange 
it  was  that  not  an  officer  was  killed  by  the  explosion.  There 
was  then  no  development  which  would  authorize  our  com 
mander —  Gen.  Birge  was  in  command  of  the  division  that 
morning  —  to  make  any  special  disposition  of  the  troops. 

The  first  division  was  up  and  in  line.  A  fog  was  coming  on. 
Then  we  heard  a  long  volley  in  our  rear,  and  a  Rebel  yell.  The 
whole  truth  dawned  upon  us.  We  looked  away  across  the  pike 
in  our  rear,  and  there  was  a  well-formed  Rebel  line  advancing. 
We  were  squarely  between  two  fires,  artillery  and  musketry. 
The  first  division  was  formed  facing  to  the  rear  as  well  as  the 
confusion  would  permit.  Capt.  Fitts  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fourteenth  N.  Y.  thus  describes  the  situation  at  that  moment :  — 

"  The  humming  of  bullets  grew  more  and  more  frequent.  Quarter 
master's  and  commissary's  wagons  were  hurrying  away ;  many  of  them,  in 
the  ignorance  of  their  drivers,  directly  toward  the  pike,  to  be  captured. 
Staff-officers  of  the  corps  and  division  were  dashing  hither  and  thither, 
vainly  striving  to  effect  a  union  of  the  disunited  regiments  against  the  solid 


280  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

front  of  the  enemy.  There  was  a  continuance  of  dropping  shots,  with  occa 
sionally  a  sharp  volley,  and  an  incessant  stream  of  fugitives,  with  arms 
thrown  away,  rushed  down  past  us  from  the  pike,  their  faces  expressing  the 
wildest  terror.  .  .  .  The  hills  on  the  right  were  peopled  with  a  mass  of  blue- 
coated  troops;  and  toward  the  left,  beyond  the  stone  mansion  which  had 
been  Sheridan's  headquarters,  a  line  of  our  soldiers  stretched  out  of  sight 
into  the  fog.  Two  or  three  guns  were  in  position,  sending  their  shells 
screeching  across  the  pike.  But,  above  all  the  clamor  and  roar  of  our  fire, 
rose  the  tremendous  volleys  and  the  terrific  yells  of  the  Rebels  as  they  bore 
down  upon  us,  nearer  and  nearer,  until  their  bullets  showered  into  our 
ranks,  and  the  victims  fell  thickly  about  us." 

It  was  Gordon  in  our  rear ;  while  Kershaw  had  gained  the 
pike  to  his  left,  and  Wharton  had  crossed  the  creek  over  the 
pike  bridge,  and  was  also  in  line  to  sweep  along  the  flank  of 
the  Nineteenth  Corps. 

Yet  even  then  there  was  no  confusion  in  the  second  division, 
save  on  the  left.  The  Fourteenth  stood  quietly  in  line,  being 
under  the  perfect  control  of  its  officers.  The  men  were  afraid, 
but  manhood  and  discipline  were  quite  equal  to  even  that  ter 
rible  occasion.  Shells  were  coming  over  in  front,  although 
those  guns  soon  ceased  firing,  and  bullets  began  to  drop  from 
the  rear.  Gordon  was  reaching  us.  with  his  muskets.  The  first 
division  was  fighting  gallantly,  although  with  a  disordered 
formation,  and  the  enemy  met  an  obstinate  resistance.  Capt. 
Fitts  says,  — 

"  There  was  a  fierce  struggle  over  the  crest  of  that  hill,  prolonged  until 
the  enemy's  advance  actually  made  prisoners  from  our  left  companies.  A 
storm  of  balls  swept  the  ground ;  and  the  blazing  of  muskets  through  the 
fog,  with  the  mingling  of  shouts,  cheers,  and  groans,  united  in  the  awful 
demonism  of  battle.  The  dead  and  wounded  dropped  thickly  from  our 
ranks,  and  scores  crawled  and  limped  to  the  rear,  smitten  sorely  with  the 
leaden  tempest.  And  still  we  flaunted  our  flag  toward  the  enemy,  and  kept 
up  a  vigorous  file  fire." 

Col.  Thomas's  brigade  of  the  first  division  had  faced  to  the 
rear,  and  advanced  across  the  pike  to  meet  the  enemy,  and 
fought  him  there  until  completely  overborne  by  weight  of 
numbers. 

The  first  division  was  melting  away  under  the  terrific  on 
slaught,  and  the  Fourteenth  was  under  a  heavy  fire.  It  grew 


OVER    THE   BREASTWORKS.  281 

so  warm  that  Capt.  Ripley  ordered  the  regiment  to  the  other 
side  of  the  breastworks ;  and  over  the  men  scrambled,  and  lay 
down.  But  the  fight  waxed  hotter  and  hotter :  the  Rebel  line 
was  so  rapidly  outflanking  us  that  if  the  regiment  remained  it 
must  be  captured  entire.  Under  orders  .the  Fourteenth  went 
back  over  the  breastworks  to  confront  the  oncoming  foe,  but 
was  immediately  driven  from  the  spot ;  and  its  formation  was 
then  lost  as  it  retreated  to  the  right. 

Different  officers  attempted  to  rally  the  men,  and  form  a  line 
to  contest  the  ground,  and  always,  so  far  as  the  writer  observed, 
with  success.  Blodgett  of  Company  F  was  killed  in  the  camp, 
and  Hayes,  of  the  same  company,  soon  after.  Several  others  fell 
near  by. 

The  retreat  of  the  regiment  had  proceeded  but  a  few  rods 
when  Capt.  Marston,  who  had  just  returned  to  the  regiment, 
formed  a  line  of  all  the  men  he  could  muster,  facing  to  the  left; 
and  they  remained  until  he  was  forced  to  order  them  back. 
"  The  Nineteenth  Corps  fought  for  an  hour  a  stern,  hopeless 
battle,  against  the  crushing  odds  that  were  opposing  it,  till  the 
dead  and  wounded  were,  in  some  regiments,  as  numerous  as  the 
living  ;  retiring  only  when  it  became  evident  that  further  de 
fence  of  that  line  was  useless.  As  the  regiments  yielded  the 
hills,  and  crossed  the  Run,  the  Rebel  advance  was  within  speak 
ing  distance." 

But  this  resistance  had  told  fearfully  on  even  a  victorious  foe 
flushed  with  the  elation  of  a  great  surprise.  Every  step  the 
enemy  gained,  this  side  the  pike,  had  been  sharply  contested  and 
dearly  won. 

Through  fog,  dismay,  and  confusion,  the  Nineteenth  Corps 
had  fought  as  well  as  men  could  in  the  midst  of  such  dire  ad 
versity,  and  had  so  crippled  and  broken  the  organization  of  the 
enemy  that  he  was  rendered  incapable  of  finally  pressing  his 
advantage  to  permanent  victory. 

What  of  the  Sixth  Corps  during  all  this  hour  and  a  half?  for 
the  Rebels  on  their  left  did  not  reach  Meadow  Brook,  and  press 
upon  the  position  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  until  between  six  and 
seven  o'clock.  Surgeon  G.  T.  Stevens  of  the  Seventy-seventh 


282  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

N.  Y.  has  published  a  work  entitled  "  Three  Years  in  the  Sixth 
Corps;"  and,  like  other  authors  previously  referred  to,  he  has 
been  led  into  serious,  as  well  as  amusing,  errors  through  a  reli 
ance  upon  partial  and  imperfect  data.  In  describing  this  battle 
he  has  mangled  the  facts  as  badly  as  many  a  tyro-surgeon 
mangled  our  poor  boys  on  the  amputating  tables.  This  author 
tells  us  that  some  confusion  toward  the  left  aroused  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Sixth  Corps ;  but  they  "  turned  over  in  their  blankets, 
and  went  to  sleep  again."  Soon  after,  flying  and  straggling 
members  of  the  Eighth  and  Nineteenth  Corps  were  observed 
pressing  to  the  rear,  and-  firing  was  heard ;  but  the  sight  ap 
peared  fairly  ludicrous  to  those  Sixth-Corps  fellows  who  "  turned 
over  and  went  to  sleep  again."  The  fact  is,  some  portions  of 
the  Sixth  Corps  on  that  morning  "  turned  over  in  their  blank 
ets  "  once  too  many  times. 

To  us  in  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  it  seems  that  the  right  of  our 
army  had  time,  if  it  had  been  improved,  to  have  formed  a  better 
line,  and  to  have  more  firmly  stemmed  the  tide  on  our  new  left, 
—  i.e.,  on  the  pike  south  of  Middletown,  —  than  they  actually 
did.  This  surgeon-author  speaks-  of  "  the  Nineteenth  Corps, 
beaten  and  discouraged."  It  was  not  beaten ;  for  it  had  not 
had  a  chance  to  fight,  except  by  piecemeal,  in  lumps,  in  half- 
battalions,  and  fragments  of  brigades :  it  was  simply  swept  away 
on  flank  and  rear.  It  was  not  discouraged :  the  sneaks  and 
cowards  ran  ;  but,  in  good  pluck  and  without  discouragement, 
the  men  rallied  every  time,  at  the  word,  whenever  there  was 
any  spot  or  chance  or  order  to  rally. 

They  were  mad  clear  through,  and  quite  bewildered  ;  but  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  was  not  discouraged.  A  discouraged  army 
does  not  whip  its  victors  on  the  same  day.  Here  are  further 
effusions  of  the  medical  historian  who  was  rolling  in  his  blan 
kets  while  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was  fighting  a  howling  foe  on 
three  sides  in  the  darkness  and  the  fog.  "The  hope  of  the 
nation  now  rested  upon  the  Sixth  Corps.  .  .  .  The  officers  of 
the  Nineteenth  were,  with  shouts  and  wild  gesticulations,  striv 
ing  to  collect  their  disordered  commands,  but  with  little  suc 
cess."  The  author  demonstrates  his  ignorance  of  the  battle  of 


DISCIPLINE   OF   THE   FOURTEENTH.  283 

Cedar  Creek  up  to  seven  o'clock.  Three  times  in  the  first  half- 
mile  of  that  dreadful  retreat  the  writer  was  in  a  rallied  line ; 
and,  so  far  as  he  could  observe,  every  man  — in  the  Fourteenth, 
certainly  —  obeyed  orders,  and  stood  in  the  frail  line  till  the 
enemy,  pressing  round  our  left  and  outflanking  us,  compelled 
the  officers  to  order  an  abandonment  of  the  position. 

Altogether  too  much  has  the  Sixth  Corps  arrogated  to  itself 
the  credit  of  doing  the  principal  part  of  the  fighting  on  that 
occasion.  That  Corps  did  well  —  after  it  got  to  doing  any 
thing :  it  always  fought  splendidly ;  yet  few  of  its  members 
can  be  trusted  to  write  history —  of  themselves. 

Had  the  Nineteenth  Corps  not  been  dumped  into  that  ravine; 
had  there  been  one  half-mile  more  of  fighting  ground  for  it 
before  being  crowded  into  Meadow  Brook,  the  first  formation 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  would  never  have  been  pushed  back  a  rod. 
As  it  was,  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  surprised,  bewildered,  over 
whelmed,  worried  the  Egyptian  pursuing  host  so  sorely  that 
"  their  chariot-wheels  dvave  heavily." 

Let  us  further  consider  the  condition  of  the  Fourteenth  before 
it  was  entirely  driven  from  the  position  it  held  in  the  beginning, 
behind  the  breastworks  south  of  Meadow  Brook.  Not  twenty 
rods  from  its  camp  a  portion  of  it  was  halted,  as  we  have  seen, 
by  Capt.  Marston,  who  acted  with  great  coolness.  In  retreat 
ing,  most  of  the  fugitives  made  for  the  pike,  or  Sheridan's  head 
quarters,  in  order  to  retreat  with  most  celerity,  and  also  to 
avoid  the  ravine  of  Meadow  Brook.  Some  bore  to  the  left 
toward  Cedar  Creek,  and  crossed  the  Run  farther  down.  Color- 
Sergt.  Howard  pursued  this  course,  accompanied  only  by  one 
of  his  guard. 

The  State  color-bearer,  from  some  cause,  abandoned  his  flag 
in  the  brush  near  the  Run,  where  it  was  afterward  found. 

The  sun  was  rising :  the  Fourteenth  had  not  left  its  place  at 
the  breastworks,  but  had  stood  helpless,  exposed,  yet  in  un 
broken  line,  until  the  artillery  was  captured  on  the  very  left  of 
our  own  brigade :  but  now  it  was  forced  across  the  Run,  and, 
as  the  colors  went  up  on  one  side,  the  Rebels  occupied  the  crest 
of  the  other ;  and  it  was  hot  work  there. 


284  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Most  of  the  regiment  had  borne  farther  toward  headquarters, 
in  retreating;  but  just  beyond  the  Run,  on  the  high  ground, 
near  some  stacks  of  grain  and  piles  of  rails,  Capt.  Ripley  rallied 
a  good  squad  of  the  Fourteenth  round  its  colors,  and  for  ten 
minutes  a  smart  fire  was  maintained ;  but  the  ground  became 
untenable,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to  fall  back. 

Sergt.  Howard  did  not  start  back  at  once,  and  his  single 
guard  stuck  by  him.  When  he  did  go,  there  was  nothing  nearer 
to  the  enemy  than  the  colors  of  the  Fourteenth. 

It  was  a  bright  target,  and  the  balls  were  sent  in  very  lively. 
One  of  them  disabled  the  color-guard,  passing  through  his 
shoulder. 

"  They've  got  me,  Charley  I  " 

"  Have  they  got  you  bad  ?  " 

"  No,  I  guess  not." 

"  Come  along,  then  !  "  and  he  never  slackened  his  pace.  It 
was  no  time  for  sentiment  or  sympathy. 

"  '  By  the  gods,  this  is  terrible,  awful ! '  an  officer  near  me  ex 
claimed.  '  Driven  from  our  camps,  beaten,  dispersed,  —  I  can 
hardly  realize  it.  We  shall  be  at  Harper's  Ferry  before  night.' 

"  And,  in  truth,  it  seemed  much  like  it.  Even  the  brigades 
which  pretended  to  maintain  an  organization  were  setting  back 
to  the  rear  as  steadily  as  an  ebb-tide ;  while  the  host  of  strag 
glers,  an  army  by  themselves,  continually  increased.  Occasion 
ally  I  heard  the  sharp  tones  of  some  general  or  field-officer, 
using  language  like  this  :  — 

"  4  Halt,  men  :  face  about  and  make  a  stand  ! ' 

"  '  By ,  this  is  dreadful !  Do  you  mean  to  be  whipped 

so  soon?  —  you,  the  victors  of  Winchester  and  Fisher's  Hill ! ' 

"  '  Give  it  to  them  ! ' 

" «  Fire  by  file  :  fire  ! ' 

"  The  clattering  of  musket-shots  would  succeed,  as  a  portion 
of  the  wavering  line  vainly  essayed  to  hold  its  ground ;  and 
then,  as  the  regiment  found  itself  alone,  exposed  to  the  de 
vouring  shot  and  shell  from  the  front,  and  the  clouds  of  bul 
lets  steadily  pouring  in  from  the  left,  where  Kershaw  pressed 
forward  his  victorious  columns,  it  was  compelled  to  yield  again 
and  again." 


A   DOUBTFUL   MOMENT.  285 

Near  the  point  where  Capt.  Ripley  rallied  a  line  as  above 
mentioned,  he  was  captured ;  and,  although  he  was  exchanged 
soon  afterward,  he  never  served  again  in  the  regiment. 

Less  than  a  third  of  a  mile  back  from  the  Run,  and  near  the 
camp  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  another  halt  was  made  ;  and  the  only 
colors  in  the  first  brigade  were  those  of  the  Fourteenth. 

General  Birge  gave  the  order  to  "  rally  on  the  colors  of  the 
Fourteenth ! " 

While  holding  this  position,  a  large  number  of  the  Fourteenth 
were  wounded.  But  again  and  again  the  enemy,  over-lapping 
our  flank,  made  every  position  taken  a  useless  one. 

Early  held  the  key  to  the  position,  —  the  pike,  —  and  the 
Union  army  must  retreat  far  enough  to  shake  off  that  grip. 

Farther  back  there  were  woods.  The  army  could  not  stop 
short  of  them.  The  Sixth  Corps  did  its  best ;  and  Early  admits 
that  our  position  on  a  ridge  west  of  Middle  town  —  Cemetery 
Hill  —  was  so  strong  that  "  Wharton's  division  was  driven  back 
in  confusion  "  from  an  attack. 

It  seemed  a  critical  time  for  the  enemy ;  but  the  Rebel  Col. 
Carter  concentrated  eighteen  or  twenty  guns  on  the  Union  posi 
tion,  which  enabled  the  Rebel  infantry  again  to  advance. 

We  do  not  credit  the  statements  that  the  advance  of  Early 
was  seriously  hindered  by  the  plundering  propensities  of  his 
troops.  There  is  evidence  that  not  Union  stores,  but  Union 
fighting,  impeded  the  Rebel  hero's  march  to  triumph ;  although 
he  did  ride  through  the  captured  Union  camps,  swinging  his 
hat  in  a  frenzy  of  joy. 

After  the  capture  of  Capt.  Ripley,  Capt.  Marston  took  com 
mand  of  the  Fourteenth. 

The  position  held  by  the  first  brigade,  when  it  rallied  on  the 
colors  of  the  Fourteenth,  was  fifteen  hundred  yards  from  the 
camp  ;  while,  at  nine  o'clock,  the  second  division  of  the  Nine 
teenth  Corps  had  retreated  two  and  three-quarters  miles,  with 
the  first  division  one-quarter  of  a  mile  still  farther  back. 
The  relative  corps  positions  were  reversed,  the  Nineteenth  being 
on  the  right  as  it  faced  the  enemy. 

For  some  reason  Gen.  Wright  ordered  the  Nineteenth  Corps 


286  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

still  farther  back :  in  fact,  after  nine  o'clock  the  retreat  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  was  in  obedience  to  orders,  and  not  because 
it  was  at  all  pressed  by  the  enemy ;  although  there  was  consid 
erable  sharp  firing  until  nearly  eleven  o'clock.  There  seems  to 
be  no  good  reason  for  the  retirement  of  the  Nineteenth  so  far. 

The  Sixth  Corps  at  nine  o'clock  was  well  posted,  and  repulsed 
the  enemy  as  we  have  seen  ;  occupying  the  heights  one  thousand 
yards  north-west  of  Middletown,  and  one  and  three-quarters 
miles  from  the  camps  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps. 

It  was  somewhat  after  eleven  o'clock  that  Sheridan  arrived 
on  the  field. 

The  army  was  ignorant  of  his  absence,  and  the  announcement 
of  his  return  had  a  double  effect :  it  explained  the  disaster,  and 
inspired  the  troops  with  unbounded  enthusiasm. 

The  men  then  knew  that  Little  Phil  had  nothing  to  do  with 
the  disaster,  and  they  believed  that  his  presence  would  have 
entirely  averted  it. 

The  Nineteenth  Corps  continued  its  retreat  until  noon ;  and 
then,  by  order  of  Gen.  Sheridan,  the  column  was  halted,  and  it 
moved  back  not  another  rod. 

The  Fourteenth  Regiment  had  retreated  almost  exactly  four 
miles,  and  was  then  one  and  three-quarters  miles  from  the  Win 
chester  pike,  and  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  Middletown. 
Here  the  men  rested  for  nearly  an  hour;  when  an  advance  was 
ordered  to  complete  the  formation  of  the  new  line  of  battle, 
the  Sixth  Corps  not  having  fallen  back  so  far. 

The  Nineteenth  advanced  in  two  lines,  Grover's  division  in 
front,  and  moved  toward  the  enemy  four-fifths  of  a  mile,  work 
ing  considerably  to  the  left  in  the  movement ;  the  left  guiding 
on  the  back  road  to  Winchester,  and  which  there  ran  north  and 
south.  This  line  was  held  from  one  o'clock  to  four,  the  first 
division  being  deployed,  and  holding  the  right  of  the  line ;  the 
second  division  on  its  left,  about  one  and  one-third  mile  from 
the  pike ;  the  Sixth  Corps  extending  to  the  pike ;  while  Crook 
was  left  of  the  pike,  and  half  a  mile  to  the  rear.  Custer  was 
one-half  mile  to  the  right  of  the  Nineteenth,  and  other  bodies 
of  our  cavalry  were  posted  on  the  left. 


SHERIDAN  ARRIVES.  287 

The  enemy's  front  line  was  within  one  thousand  yards  of 
Sheridan's  new  line,  and  remained  so  until  four  o'clock ;  while 
the  Rebel  batteries  were  strongly  posted  in  an  apple-orchard 
and  at  other  points  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  village  of 
Middletown. 

It  is  impossible  to  depict  the  wild  enthusiasm  aroused  by 
Sheridan's  appearance.  We  had  passed  the  dread  stage  of 
Clan  Alpine's  lament,  — 

"  Where,  where  was  Roderick  then  ? 
One  blast  upon  his  bugle-horn 
Were  worth  a  thousand  men." 

Our  Roderick  was  there :  his  personal  power  was  greater 
than  that  of  the  proudest  chieftain  of  a  Scottish  clan,  and  his 
words  of  cheer  and  grandeur  of  command  were  worth  ten  thou 
sand  men  on  the  field  of  Cedar  Creek.  He  rode  along  the 
line  :  tempests  of  applause  proved  his  presence,  and  throughout 
the  Union  lines  the  Rebel  success  was  an  eliminated  factor  in 
the  problem  of  the  day. 

Imagination  is  inadequate  to  picture  the  strange,  the  dra 
matic  situation  of  the  two  armies  from  one  to  four  o'clock. 
Nor  did  the  living  actors  in  the  wondrous  drama  realize  it  much 
more  than  the  civilian  reader  of  this  story.  Indeed,  it  had 
ceased  to  be  a  drama  or  a  battle  in  the  Union  lines  for  the  hour ; 
and  the  tired  men  lay  down,  ate,  rested,  chatted,  knowing  that 
the  tug  of  war  was  in  the  stretch  of  daylight  yet  remaining, 
and  over  the  broken  country  so  recently  and  so  disastrously 
traversed:  yet  no  trouble  was  borrowed  out  of  the  next  hour 
to  disturb  the  serenity  of  the  present. 

The  victors  had  probably  not  conceived  of  themselves  as  the 
worst-vanquished  host  of  the  whole  war;  nor  did  the  beaten 
troops,  driven  like  sheep  in  the  morning,  consider  themselves 
as  the  heroic  champions  of  a  field  magnificent  both  as  a  disaster 
and  a  triumph. 

There  was  nothing  of  bravado  in  this  indifference  of  the 
Union  soldier :  it  was  simply  a  cool  realization  of  the  peril,  and 
a  manly  acceptance  of  it  as  something  unavoidable. 


288  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

A  further  Rebel  advance  was  expected,  and  it  was  anticipated 
as  likely  to  be  very  determined.  The  enemy  had  kept  up  an 
uninterrupted  artillery  fire,  and  soon  after  two  o'clock  Early's 
infantry  line  advanced.  The  first  division  only  slightly  felt  the 
onset,  but  Grover's  division  was  more  fiercely  assailed,  and  took 
the  brunt  of  the  attack.  Early  gives  this  account  of  the  at 
tempted  advance : — 

"  After  he  was  driven  from  his  second  position,  the  enemy  had  taken  a 
new  position  about  two  miles  north  of  Middletown  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  had 
regulated  matters  on  the  right,  so  as  to  prevent  his  cavalry  from  getting  in 
rear  of  that  flank,  I  rode  to  the  left  for  the  purpose  of  ordering  an  advance. 
I  found  Ramseur  and  Kershaw  in  line  with  Pegram,  but  Gordon  had  not 
come  up.  In  a  short  time,  however,  I  found  him  coming  up  from  the  rear  ; 
and  I  ordered  him  to  take  position  on  Kershaw's  left,  and  advance  for  the 
purpose  of  driving  the  enemy  from  his  new  position;  Kershaw  and  Ramseur 
being  ordered  to  advance  at  the  same  time.  As  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  our 
left  was  very  strong,  and  had  the  benefit  of  an  open  country  to  the  rear  of 
that  flank,  a  repulse  at  this  time  would  have  been  disastrous  ;  and  I  therefore 
directed  Gen.  Gordon,  if  he  found  the  enemy's  line  too  strong  to  attack  with 
success,  not  to  make  the  assault.  The  advance  was  made  for  some  distance, 
when  Gordon's  skirmishers  came  back  reporting  a  line  of  battle  in  front  be 
hind  breastworks,  and  Gen.  Gordon  did  not  make  the  attack.  It  was  now 
apparent  that  it  would  not  do  to  press  my  troops  further." 

He  did  make  the  attack,  or  attempted  to  make  it,  and  was 
repulsed  by  Grover's  division. 

It  was  while  lying  down  here  that  Otis  P.  Kreatzer  of  Com 
pany  B  lifted  his  head  a  trifle  above  the  temporary  breastworks, 
when  he  was  killed  by  a  cannon-ball.  He  was  not  touched  by 
the  shot,  the  concussion  proving  fatal. 

Sheridan  took  plenty  of  time  to  get  ready.  At  four  o'clock 
his  mill  was  all  ready ;  and  the  grist  which  Early  had  brought  so 
early  in  the  day,  although  a  little  late  in  getting  into  the  Union 
hopper,  was  to  be  ground  "  exceeding  fine." 

An  aide  of  Gen.  Sheridan  rode  up ;  and  then  the  order  ran 
along  the  line,  "  Forward  the  Nineteenth  Corps ! "  "  Forward 
second  division  !  "  "  Forward  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  ! " 

Here  again  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was  to  take  the  brunt  of  the 
conflict ;  and  the  second  division  was  in  the  very  hottest  of  the 


THE   TIDE  SET  BACK.  289 

terrible  storm  of  shot,  shell,  and  bullets.  Major  Gould,  in  his 
history  of  the  Twenty-ninth  Me.,  naturally  claims  for  his  bri 
gade —  the  first  of  the  first  division  —  the  chief  glory  in  this 
decisive  advance.  This  author,  while  more  candid  and  accurate 
than  most  others,  has  not  done  justice  to  Grover's  division  nor 
to  Birge's  brigade. 

The  Eighth  Vt.  and  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  N.  Y.,  who 
were  posted  to  the  right  of  the  first  brigade,  first  division.,  suf 
fered  perhaps  more  than  the  second  division  troops  :  but  Birge's 
brigade,  in  the  face  of  a  withering  fire,  while  recoiling  for  a 
moment,  fully  kept  up  its  portion  of  the  advancing  line ;  and 
when  our  gallant  Color-Sergt.  Howard  waved  his  flag,  and 
started  toward  the  stone  wall  behind  which  frowned  the  Rebel 
line,  the  Fourteenth  gathered  itself,  and,  with  the  irresistible 
impetuosity  which  it  showed  at  Opequan,  it  swept  on,  never 
again  to  hesitate. 

There  was  a  shrinking,  a  hesitancy,  when  the  Union  advance 
met  the  stubborn  Rebel  resistance. 

It  was  a  critical  moment ;  but  the  Nineteenth  Corps  put  into 
the  concrete  of  success  the  plan  and  expectation  of  its  master, 
Sheridan.  Previous  to  the  onward  movement,  the  available 
force  was  considerably  augmented  by  the  return  to  the  ranks 
of  many  who  had  been  exceedingly  intent  upon  going  to  the 
rear  after  the  surprise  of  the  morning.  Major  Gould,  in  the 
volume  previously  referred  to,  makes  an  ingenious  calculation, 
from  which  he  concludes  that  Sheridan  had  but  six  thousand 
infantry  actually  in  line  when  he  reversed  the  fortunes  of  the 
day. 

It  is  a  popular  delusion  that  the  cavalry  initiated  the  rout  of 
the  enemy.  The  cavalry  only  finished  a  job  which  the  infantry 
alone  had  begun. 

The  temporary  confusion  on  the  right  of  the  line  was  caused 
by  the  Rebel  left  overlapping  the  Union  right,  so  that  Evans's 
brigade  —  the  same  which  Birge's  brigade  and  the  Fourteenth 
encountered  at  Opequan  —  turned  our  flank;  but  McMillan's 
brigade  of  the  first  division  wheeled  to  the  right,  and  by  a  bril 
liant  counter-charge  cut  off  the  Rebel  brigade  from  the  rest  of 


290  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  enemy's  line,  and  sent  it  scampering  away  across  Cedar 
Creek  to  our  right,  broken  and  useless. 

Early  attributes  the  loss  of  the  day  to  this  rout  of  Evans's 
brigade,  as  the  rest  of  Gordon's  men  ran  when  they  saw  the 
fate  of  their  comrades  ;  but  it  is  not  so.  The  divisions  of  Gor 
don,  Kershaw,  and  Ramseur  were  splendidly  fought  by  the 
Nineteenth  Corps ;  and  it  was  only  after  a  most  stubborn  resist 
ance  that  the  enemy  was  forced  from  behind  its  stone-wall 
intrenchments. 

To  the  left  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  were  Rickett's,  Whea- 
ton's,  and  Getty's  third,  first,  and  second  divisions  of  the  Sixth 
Corps  in  the  order  named.  Their  advance  was  later  and  not  so 
rapid,  as  the  Rebel  positions  in  the  orchards  and  behind  the 
walls  at  the  northern  edge  of  Middletown  were  well  defended 
to  the  last  possible  moment  by  Pegram  and  Wharton. 

On  the  Rebel  left,  Ramseur  was  mortally  wounded  while  tem 
porarily  checking  the  Union  advance,  west  of  Middletown,  with 
some  of  his  troops  who  were  not  panic-stricken. 

At  this  stage  of  the  battle  Custer  charged  with  his  whole 
division  of  cavalry,  the  infantry  having  first  turned  the  tide  of 
conflict.  Pegram  and  Wharton  abandoned  Middletown.  Every 
thing  on  legs  was  getting  into  a  dead  run  ;  and  both  armies  were 
full  bent  toward  the  pike  crossing  of  Cedar  Creek,  neither 
Sheridan's  nor  Early's  troops  much  regarding  order:  the  one 
in  a  gallop  of  fun  and  boundless  hilarity ;  the  other  panic- 
stricken,  scattered,  "  thrashed  out  of  their  boots,"  and  covered 
with  the  shame  of  a  most  humiliating  contrast  between  the 
boasts  of  the  morning  and  the  ruin  of  the  evening. 

For  three  mUes,  or  to  their  old  camps,  the  infantry  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  pursued  the  enemy ;  while  the  cavalry  was 
the  great  agency  in  finishing  the  work,  running  the  enemy 
away  into  the  night,  and  constantly  bringing  in  rich  trophies 
of  the  victory. 

The  Rebel  infantry,  cavalry,  artillery,  ammunition  and  bag 
gage  wagons,  ambulances,  and  what  of  the  Union  camp  valua 
bles  they  had  succeeded  in  making  off  with,  were  tangled  in  an 
indescribable  jam  at  the  Cedar-Creek  crossing;  and  it  was  there 


ROUT  OF  EARLY.  291 

that  the  great  Union  harvest  was  gathered  in,  although  property 
and  prisoners  were  taken  all  along  to  Fisher's  Hill. 

In  the  last  part  of  the  afternoon  there  was  some  confusion 
of  mind  among  the  artillerists  of  the  Sixth  Corps  ;  as  they  fired 
several  rounds  into  their  own  comrades  of  the  Nineteenth,  mis 
taking  them  for  the  enemy. 

During  the  final  charge  Sheridan  was  mounted  on  a  small 
gray  horse,  and  wore  a  private's  overcoat  as  he  rode  from  point 
to  point,  exhorting  his  men  to  press  the  foe,  and  not  succumb  to 
the  withering  fire. 

That  was  an  anxious  moment  for  Little  Phil,  and  magnificently 
did  the  men  respond  to  his  appeals. 

We  believe  that  not  another  man  in  America  could  have  got 
that  victory  out  of  that  army.  The  men  did  noble  work,  and 
they  knew  that  Sheridan  was  organizing  and  directing  them 
splendidly. 

In  the  last  charge,  in  the  last  moments  of  Rebel  resistance, 
Sergt.-Major  J.  Henry  Jenks  was  killed,  —  the  last  man  who  fell 
in  battle  in  the  Fourteenth. 

There  has  been  no  attempt  in  this  volume  to  mete  out  the 
praise  so  justly  due  to  a  great  number  of  the  Fourteenth ;  but 
there  is  one  man,  modest,  but  brave  and  true  as  any  man  could 
be,  whom  we  cannot  neglect  to  mention.  Among  all  the  proud 
memories  of  that  day  at  Cedar  Creek,  let  the  heroism  of  Charles 
G.  Howard,  the  gallant  color-bearer  of  the  regiment,  be  ever 
cherished  by  his  companions  in  arms.  He  contributed  largely 
to  the  glory  of  the  day,  and  his  bravery  was  conspicuous  at  a 
critical  moment  in  the  field. 

The  part  which  the  Fourteenth  bore  in  the  battle  is  perhaps 
best  shown  by  the  official  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 

This  regiment  lost  more  men  in  killed  than  any  other  regi 
ment  in  the  brigade,  and  nearly  twice  as  many  as  any  other 
except  the  Twelfth  Me.  In  wounded,  the  Fourteenth  lost  more 
than  any  other  regiment;  nearly  three  times  as  many  as  any 
other  save  the  Fourteenth  Me.,  and  more  than  one-third  of  all 
the  wounded  in  the  brigade  of  six  regiments.  There  were  but 
eighteen  members  of  the  regiment  missing  that  night,  a  fact 
which  speaks  emphatically  for  its  discipline. 


292  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

"Cozzens,"  the  character  of  the  regiment,  the  butt  of  the 
whole  line,  the  hero  of  one  of  the  most  remarkable  military 
funerals  on  record,  —  let  Cozzens  not  be  forgotten  in  the  annals 
of  Cedar  Creek.  He  redeemed  himself.  When  the  fire  was 
hottest,  when  the  fortunes  of  the  day  trembled  in  the  balance, 
Cozzens  was  sent  to  supply  the  skirmish-line  with  ammunition. 
Coolly,  bravely,  faithfully,  did  he  perform  his  whole  duty ;  and 
on  that  field  he  filled  the  uniform  of  a  soldier  and  a  man. 

The  Fourteenth  slept  in  its  old  camp  that  night.  Sheridan 
had  grandly  kept  his  word. 

The  first  division  went  on  picket  beyond  Strasburg.  Daring 
the  night  the  wounded  suffered  fearfully,  and  the  Rebel  citizens 
engaged  in  shameful  plundering. 

Even  the  Rebel  women,  living  in  the  vicinity,  wandered  over 
the  field,  robbing  the  helpless  Union  soldiers ;  in  several  cases 
going  so  far  as  to  strip  from  the  groaning  victims  their  trowsers 
and  drawers.  The  atrocities  of  that  night  were  worthy  of 
Arabi  Pacha. 

The  next  morning  there  were  parked,  in  front  of  Sheridan's 
headquarters,  fifty  cannon  which  were  captured  after  five  o'clock 
on  the  evening  of  the  battle.  The  boys  thronged  up  to  inspect 
the  booty. 

Unparalleled  transformation  !  The  Union  army  rested  on  its 
peculiar  yet  magnificent  laurels,  and  wondered  long  and  exulted 
over  the  whole  serio-comic  drama. 

Early  thus  sums  up,  in  his  unique  fashion,  the  situation  on  his 
side :  — 

"This  was  the  case  of  a  glorious  victory  given  up  by  my  own  troops 
after  they  had  won  it ;  and  it  is  to  be  accounted  for  on  the  ground  of  the 
partial  demoralization  caused  by  the  plunder  of  the  enemy's  camps,  and  from 
the  fact  that  the  men  undertook  to  judge  for  themselves  when  it  was  proper 
to  retire.  Had  they  but  waited,  the  mischief  on  the  left  would  have  been 
remedied.  I  have  never  been  able  to  satisfy  myself  that  the  enemy's  attack 
in  the  afternoon  was  not  a  demonstration  to  cover  his  retreat  during  the 
night.  It  certainly  was  not  a  vigorous  one."  „ 

Silence  is  the  fitting  comment  upon  such  arrant  nonsense. 


CEDAR 
CREEK. 

A-M//OW  (MMP£  BEFORE  BATTLE 
P-SHERIDAVS  HEADQUARTERS 
1-REBEIS  4A.M. 

2-  »       130 

3-  ,  *»       8-9  >» 

4-  >»       7j     » 

5-  "      T-4PM. 


LIEUT.   HOLMES 'S  STORY.  293 


ANOTHER  ACCOUNT. 

The  following  sketch  of  the  battle  was  written  by  Lieut.  M. 
M.  Holmes,  of  Company  H. 

The  regiment  was  partly  in  line,  just  at  the  dawn  of  that 
hazy  Indian-summer  day,  when  on  the  extreme  left,  in  front  of 
Crook's  corps,  was  heard  the  ominous  rattle  of  musketry,  sharp 
and  distinct  at  first,  and  increasing  in  force  and  volume  until  it 
became  a  continuous  roar,  mingled  soon  with  the  booming  of 
cannon.  Our  division  was  in  two  lines;  our  brigade  was  in  the 
front  line,  on  a  ridge  facing,  and  at  some  little  distance  from, 
Cedar  Creek.  Our  breastworks  (that  is,  in  front  of  the  Four 
teenth  Regiment)  were  on  the  slope  of  this  ridge  fronting 
Cedar  Creek ;  so  that  the  company  quarters  were  on  a  little 
higher  ground,  and  the  tents  of  the  field  and  staff  were  on  the 
top  of  the  ridge,  which  then  sloped  to  a  small  ravine  or  depres 
sion,  rising  to  another  little  ridge  a  half-mile  or  so  beyond,  on 
which  lay  the  second  brigade,  forming  the  second  line.  We 
were  ordered  to  lie  in  our  intrenchments  to  repel  an  expected 
attack  in  front.  The  Eighth  Corps,  completely  surprised,  was 
driven  from  its  position  in  confusion,  and  was  forced  to  the 
right  upon  the  Nineteenth  Corps.  Our  second  brigade  changed 
front,  and  offered  a  most  stubborn  and  determined  resistance  to 
the  Rebel  advance.  The  battery  at  the  left  of  our  brigade  was 
captured,  and  soon  —  probably  an  hour  after  the  first  volley  — 
the  bullets  came  whistling  over  our  heads  from  the  rear  and  left 
rear.  On  account  of  the  ridge  before  referred  to,  but  little 
damage  was  done  ;  though  the  boys  had  to  hug  the  breastworks, 
or  rather  lie  in  the  ditch  behind  them,  pretty  closely.  We  lay 
in  the  intrenchments  until  we  were  completely  flanked  in  the 
rear,  and  the  regimental  headquarters  captured  ;  when  the  order 
was  given  to  retreat  by  the  right  flank,  which  was  done  in  good 
order,  though  the  Rebel  flank  was  abreast  of,  and  less  than  a 
dozen  rods  from  us.  The  Rebel  line  halted  at  a  sutler's  tent 
(which  was  newly  supplied  the  night  before),  and  even  the 
color-bearers  went  in  to  help  clean  it  out.  That  was  one  case, 


294  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

certainly,  where  the  sutler  was  of  great  benefit.  Capt.  Ripley 
tried  to  rally  the  regiment  at  some  lateral  breastworks  on  the 
right  of  our  brigade ;  but  the  Rebels  were  pressing  too  closely, 
and  no  effectual  stand  was  made  until  we  came  to  some  breast 
works  on  the  ridge,  next  to  the  ravine  by  the  mill.  Here  a  halt 
was  made,  and  the  Rebel  advance  stopped ;  but  in  the  mean 
time  the  second  brigade  had  been  crushed,  and  the  Rebels  again 
overlapped  our  flank,  when  Capt.  Ripley  gave  the  order  to  re 
treat  and  form  on  the  next  ridge. 

The  ravine  into  which  we  then  retreated  was  heavily  wooded, 
or,  perhaps  more  properly,  was  full  of  small  trees  and  under 
brush  ;  and  the  regiment  got  badly  scattered.  It  was  here,  or  at 
the  mill  beyond,  that  Ripley  and  many  others  were  captured. 
Some  went  to  the  right  of  the  mill,  and  some  to  the  left,  and 
some  tried  to  make  a  stand  at  the  mill.  This  was  about  eight 
o'clock.  The  next  stand  was  made  on  a  ridge  some  distance  in 
the  rear,  —  that  is,  by  the  colors  and  a  part  of  the  regiment. 
The  remainder  were  scattered,  and  many  fought  in  other  parts 
of  the  line.  The  color-bearers  were  Charles  G.  Howard  of 
Company  F,  and  Charles  F.  Heath  of  Company  H.  They  never 
flinched  under  the  hottest  fire,  and  deserve  special  mention. 
Here  we  fought  nearly  an  hour.  The  Rebels  were  on  the 
ridge  beyond,  and  kept  firing  all  the  time,  but  made  no  attempt 
to  charge.  Here  many  were  wounded,  but  none  killed.  It  was 
a  good  place  in  which  to  test  a  man's  courage ;  for  we  were  on 
the  slope  of  the  ridge  facing  the  Rebels,  and  without  any  pro 
tection  whatever. 

Here  occurred  an  incident  which  is  as  vivid  to  me  now  as  then. 
Corpl.  Amos  C.  Bailey  of  Company  H,  as  brave  a  man  as  ever 
wore  the  blue,  during  the  hottest  of  the  fire  was  on  one  knee 
loading  his  gun.  I  was  standing  two  or  three  steps  behind  him. 
A  Minie'-ball  struck  him  in  the  left  shoulder.  He  turned  to  me 
as  coolly  as  though  nothing  had  happened,  and,  pointing  to  the 
hole  in  his  shoulder,  said,  "See  that!"  I  said,  "Bailey,  you'd 
better  go  to  the  rear ; "  but  he  replied,  "  I  guess  I  can  fire 
a  while  longer."  But  he  soon  lost  the  use  of  his  arm,  and 
started  for  the  rear,  taking  his  gun  with  him.  He  has  suffered 


A    GENERAL   ON  A   MULE.  295 

a  dozen  deaths  from  the  wound,  and  been  insane  much  of  the 
time,  but,  I  understand,  is  better  now. 

Sergt.  Parker  was  sent  to  report  the  exposed  condition  of  a 
portion  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment,  and  found  Gen.  Birge, 
hatless,  sitting  on  an  army-mule  without  a  bridle.  Saluting 
his  superior  officer,  the  sergeant  said,  "  Lieut.  Holmes  of  the 
Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  sends  his  compliments,  and  says 
the  men  are  nearly  out  of  ammunition,  and  the  Rebels  are 
flanking  on  the  left."  Gen.  Birge  replied  that  he  would  see  to 
it ;  but  we  were  soon  outflanked,  and  obliged  to  retreat,  which 
we  did  in  good  order.  The  next  stand  was  made  some  distance 
in  the  rear,  where  we  were  joined  by  others  of  the  regiment. 
We  were  under  fire  most  of  the  time  till  about  eleven  o'clock ; 
but  the  firing  was  at  long  range,  and  the  Rebels  did  not  press 
us  very  hard.  They  were  too  much  occupied  in  gutting  the 
sutlers'  tents  and  pillaging  the  camps. 

There  were  several  things  that  helped  to  "save  the  day" 
at  Cedar  Creek.  The  brilliant  victory  of  the  afternoon  was 
due  to  Sheridan  and  the  valor  of  the  troops.  But  if  Early  had 
pursued  his  victory  of  the  morning  with  the  same  vigor  that  he 
started  with,  nothing  could  have  saved  the  army.  The  first 
obstacle  the  Rebels  met  was  our  second  brigade ;  and  its  deter 
mined  resistance  gave  our  own  brigade  a  chance  to  retreat,  and 
the  first  division  and  the  Sixth  Corps  time  to  form.  But  another 
important  factor  was  the  sutlers.  The  night  before,  a  long  train 
of  sutlers'  wagons  arrived.  The  Rebel  line  halted  at  the  sutlers' 
tents,  and  it  did  not  advance  till  the  goods  were  cleaned  out. 
Thus  from  a  little  after  nine  o'clock  till  one,  the  Rebels  de 
voted  more  energy  to  pillaging  the  camps  than  to  following  up 
their  victory;  giving  Sheridan  time  to  re-form  the  lines,  and 
repel  their  charge  in  the  afternoon. 


So  far  as  friends  have  responded  to  the  author's  invitation, 
we  present  obituary  notices  of  the  killed  and  mortally  wounded. 
As  in  the  list  of  the  killed  at  Opequan,  so  here,  there  are  many 


296  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

who  are  not  mentioned.  For  this  incompleteness  neither  the 
author,  nor  the  committee  as  a  whole,  can  be  held  responsible. 
In  the  case  of  some  whose  names  do  appear,  more  extended 
notices  would  have  been  given  had  the  facts  been  supplied. 

CORPL.  C.  A.  PEELER. 

Charles  A.  Peeler  was  born  in  Vernon,  Vt.,  February  17, 
1839,  and  lived  there  until  the  summer  of  1861 ;  when  he  mar 
ried  Miss  Laura  B.  Smith,  and  removed  to  Hinsdale.  He  was 
there  employed  in  the  woollen-mill  until  his  enlistment,  August 
14,  1862,  in  Company  A.  July  1,  1864,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
corporalcy.  Being  mortally  wounded,  he  died  at  Newtown, 
Va.,  October  22,  and  was  there  buried.  He  left  no  children. 
His  widow  remarried,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  Dicker- 
man. 

CORPL.  L.  D.  LEARNED. 

Lewis  D.  Learned  was  born  in  Dublin,  September  11,  1841. 
He  was  a  farmer,  and  resided  in  his  native  town  at  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  as  a  private  in  Company  G,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  He  was  promoted  to  corporal,  October  1, 1864.  His  death 
was  caused  by  a  Minid-ball  passing  through  the  left  breast.  He 
was  unmarried,  and  is  buried  in  Dublin.  A  few  months  after 
Corporal  Learned's  death,  a  sister  residing  in  Dublin  received 
a  letter  containing  her  own  picture,  which  a  Rebel  prisoner  had 
taken  from  the  body  of  young  Learned  just  after  the  battle. 

CORPL.  T.  A.  HAWKINS. 

Thomas  A.  Hawkins  was  born  in  Conway,  February  10, 1836. 
He  was  by  occupation  a  farmer,  unmarried,  and  resided  in 
Dummer,  N.H.  A  young  man  of  good  habits,  always  prompt 
and  faithful  in  the  performance  of  his  duties  as  a  soldier,  he 
won  and  retained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  who  knew 
him.  He  enlisted  in  Company  E ;  and  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  corporal,  February  27,  1864.  He  was  shot  through  the 
head,  his  body  rifled  of  a  large  sum  of  money  and  a  valuable 


THE  KILLED.  297 

watch,  and  left  on  the  spot  where  he  had  fallen.    He  was  buried 
in  Winchester. 

CORPL.  S.  P.  HOLT. 

Samuel  P.  Holt  was  born  in  Wilton,  September  9,  1844,  and 
was  brought  up  as  a  farmer,  assisting  his  father  in  Dublin, 
and  getting  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Wilton,  Pepperell, 
and  Dublin.  He  was  one  of  the  youngest  members  of  Com 
pany  A;  was  appointed  corporal,  July  1, 1864;  and  died  from 
wounds  in  Newton  Hospital,  Winchester,  October  24.  Corpl." 
Holt  was  unmarried.  He  was  buried  in  Winchester. 

C.  A.   CARTER. 

Charles  A.  Carter,  son  of  Luke  and  Lucy  M.  Carter,  was 
born  in  Jaffrey,  January  6,  1843.  He  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living.  Charles  Carter 
was  a  farmer  and  mechanic,  previous  to  his  enlistment  in  Com 
pany  G.  He  was  not  married.  He  was  killed  by  a  bullet 
striking  him  on  the  temple,  and  was  buried  on  the  field. 


Below  appear  some  of  the  congratulatory  despatches,  etc., 
which  followed  this  brilliant  and  overwhelming  victory.  The 
following  letter  to  Sheridan  was  sent  by  President  Lincoln  :  — 

"  With  great  pleasure  I  tender  to  you  and  your  brave  army  the  thanks  of 
the  nation,  and  my  own  personal  admiration  and  gratitude,  for  the  month's 
operations  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and  especially  for  the  splendid  work 
of  October  19,  1864." 

The  following  despatch  was  sent  from  Grant  to  Stanton  :  — 
"  I  had  a  salute  of  one  hundred  guns,  from  each  of  the  armies  here,  fired 
in  honor  of  Sheridan's  last  victory.     Turning  what  had  bid  fair  to  be  a  dis 
aster  into  glorious  victory  stamps  Sheridan,  what  I  have  always  thought 
him,  one  of  the  ablest  of  generals." 

From  Sherman  to  Halleck  :  — 

"We  have  heard  of  Gen.  Sheridan's  victory  at  Cedar  Creek.     We  can't 


298  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

afford  to  burn  gunpowder;  but  our  men  can  make  up  in  yelling,  which  is 
just  as  good." 

The  following  is  a  joint  resolution  of  the  Senate  and  House 
of  Representatives:  — 

"  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa'ives  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are 
hereby  tendered  to  Major-Gen.  Philip  H.  Sheridan,  and  to  the  officers  and 
men  under  his  command,  for  the  gallantry,  military  skill,  and  courage  dis 
played  in  the  brilliant  series  of  victories  achieved  by  them  in  the  Valley  of 
the  Shenandoah,  and  especially  for  their  services  at  Cedar  Run  on  the  nine 
teenth  day  of  October,  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four,  which  retrieved  the 
fortunes  of  the  day  and  thus  averted  a  great  disaster. 

"  And  be  it  further  resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be, 
and  hereby  is,  requested  to  communicate  this  resolution  to  Major-Gen. 
Sheridan,  and  through  him  to  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command." 

No  account  of  Cedar  Creek  would  be  complete  without  that 
famous  versification  of  T.  Buchanan  Read  upon  the  most  con 
spicuous  act  of  the  strange  drama  :  — 

SHERIDAN'S   RIDE. 

Up  from  the  South  at  break  of  day, 
Bringing  to  Winchester  fresh  dismay, 
The  affrighted  air  with  a  shudder  bore, 
Like  a  herald  in  haste,  to  the  chieftain's  door, 
The  terrible  grumble,  and  rumble,  and  roar, 
Telling  the  battle  was  on  once  more, 
And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

And  wider  still  those  billows  of  war 

Thundered  along  the  horizon's  bar; 

And  louder  yet  into  Winchester  rolled 

The  roar  of  that  red  sea  uncontrolled, 

Making  the  blood  of  the  listener  cold, 

As  he  thought  of  the  stake  in  that  fiery  fray, 

And  Sheridan  twenty  miles  away. 

But  there  is  a  road  from  Winchester  town, 

A  good  broad  highway  leading  down; 

And  there,  through  the  flush  of  the  morning  light, 

A  steed  as  black  as  the  steeds  of  night 

Was  seen  to  pass,  as  with  eagle  flight. 


"  SHERIDAN'S  RIDE."  299 

As  if  he  knew  the  terrible  need, 
Pie  stretched  away  with  his  utmost  speed : 
Hills  rose  and  fell;  but  his  heart  was  gay, 
With  Sheridan  fifteen  miles  away. 

Still  sprung  from  those  swift  hoofs,  thundering  south, 

The  dust,  like  smoke  from  the  cannon's  mouth ; 

Or  the  trail  of  a  comet,  sweeping  faster  and  faster, 

Foreboding  to  traitors  the  doom  of  disaster. 

The  heart  of  the  steed,  and  the  heart  of  the  master, 

Were  beating  like  prisoners  assaulting  their  walls, 

Impatient  to  be  where  the  battle-field  calls : 

Every  nerve  of  the  charger  was  strained  to  full  play, 

With  Sheridan  only  ten  miles  away. 

Under  his  spurning  feet,  the  road 

Like  an  arrowy  Alpine  river  flowed, 

And  the  landscape  sped  away  behind 

Like  an  ocean  flying  before  the  wind; 

And  the  steed,  like  a  bark  fed  with  furnace  ire, 

Swept  on,  with  his  wild  eye  full  of  fire. 

But  lo!  he  is  nearing  his  heart's  desire: 

He  is  snuffing  the  smoke  of  the  roaring  fray,     , 

With  Sheridan  only  five  miles  away. 

The  first  that  the  general  saw  were  the  groups 

Of  stragglers,  and  then  the  retreating  troops. 

What  was  done  ?  what  to  do  ?  A  glance  told  him  both, 

Then  striking  his  spurs,  with  a  terrible  oath, 

He  dashed  down  the  line,  'mid  a  storm  of  huzzas, 

And  the  wave  of  retreat  checked  its  course  there,  because 

The  sight  of  the  master  compelled  it  to  pause. 

With  foam  and  with  dust  the  black  charger  was  gray ; 

By  the  flash  of  his  eye,  and  the  red  nostril's  play, 

He  seemed  to  the  whole  great  army  to  say, 

"  I  have  brought  you  Sheridan  all  the  way 

From  Winchester,  down  to  save  the  day ! ' ' 

Hurrah!  hurrah  for  Sheridan! 

Hurrah!  hurrah  for  horse  and  man! 

And  when  their  statues  are  placed  on  high, 

Under  the  dome  of  the  Union  sky,  — 

The  American  soldiers'  Temple  of  Fame,  — 

There,  with  the  glorious  general's  name, 


300  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Be  it  said,  in  letters  both  bold  and  bright, 
"  Here  is  the  steed  that  saved  the  day, 

By  carrying  Sheridan  into  the  fight, 

From  Winchester,  twenty  miles  away!  " 

MUSIC   IN   THE   ARMY. 

The  healthy  soldier,  when  at  leisure,  turned  instinctively  to 
his  song.  In  his  repertoire  were  to  be  found  martial,  patriotic, 
sentimental,  and  lighter  music.  The  drum-corps  was  limited 
strictly  to  the  first  class  mentioned.  The  band,  with  every 
available  voice  in  the  regiment,  formed  the  orchestra  and  grand 
chorus  for  the  rendition  of  nearly  every  variety.  A  curious 
comparison  might  be  drawn  between  the  songs  of  a  standing 
monarchical  army  and  those  of  the  volunteer  forces  of  a  repub 
lic  in  a  war  like  that  of  the  Great  Rebellion.  Surely  from  our 
boys  in  blue  there  was  heard  the  grandest  outburst  of  strains 
tender  and  strong,  loyal  to  country  and  home,  that  ever  swelled 
on  the  breeze  of  any  campaign  or  conflict. 

A  comprehensive  treatment  of  this  topic,  in  its  relation  to  the 
Civil  War,  would,  of  itself,  fill  a  large  and  entertaining  volume. 
The  bugle-call  at  reveille,  on  the  skirmish-line,  or  guiding  the 
brilliant  evolutions  of  squadron  and  battery,  is  still  echoing  in 
veteran  ears  throughout  the  North.  The  airs  of  cornet  and  fife 
linger  still  about  many  a  farm,  shop,  store,  and  office,  welcome 
reminiscences  of  times  and  experiences  never  to  be  forgotten. 

In  subordinate  military  music  the  different  "  calls  "  formed 
an  important  and  perpetual  element.  Doubtless  the  disgruntled 
or  worn-out  soldier  would  .question  the  rapturous  melody  of  the 
tantalizing  drum  sounding  the  call  for  another  detail  to  appear 
in  front  of  the  adjutant's  quarters.  But  in  spite  of  all  unpleas 
ant  suggestions,  it  was  true  that  much  of  the  genuine  romance 
of  camp-life  was  associated  with  the  routine  "  calls."  There 
are  no  more  exhilarating  bounds  from  the  rest  of  night  into  the 
duties  of  day,  no  finer  inspiration  thrilling  the  entire  nervous 
system  of  a  vigorous  man,  than  the  first  burst,  crash,  and  roll  of 
reveille  when  a  crack  drum-corps  with  melodious  shrill  fife 
rallies  upon  the  color-line,  and  rouses  an  entire  regiment  as  by 


A   MEDLEY  IN  MUSIC.  301 

an  electrical  shock.  On  a  bright  morning,  or  in  the  midst  of 
storm  and  bluster,  nothing  so  fittingly  ushers  in  the  day  and 
stirs  to  activity  as  the  reveille  in  a  military  camp.  It  is  incom 
parably  better  than  five  glasses  at  Congress  Spa  before  break 
fast.  The  effect  is  intensified  when,  in  a  great  army  stretching 
out  for  miles,  a  single  bugle-note  gives  the  signal,  and  then,  as 
by  magic,  from  every  direction  break  out  and  roll  on  in  one 
mass  of  accelerating  sound  the  roll  of  drums,  the  screech  of 
fifes,  and  the  blare  of  artillery  and  cavalry  bugles.  Where  is 
the  human  being  who  can  compete  with  an  accomplished  trum 
peter  in  waking  the  music  out  of  a  crisp  morning  atmosphere  ? 

The  breakfast-call,  thirty  minutes  later,  was  more  suggestive 
of  slab  bacon  than  of  sestheticism  ;  but  the  accompaniment  of 
tin  plates,  quart  cups,  and  iron  spoons  was  perfectly  attuned  to 
the  stomach's  sentiment.  Then  at  eight-thirty  came  the  sick- 
call  ;  arid  the  mournful,  ludicrous  procession  gathered  from  each 
company  converged  at  the  surgeon's  quarters.  There  was  seen 
the  faithful  soldier  who  had  fought  off  disease,  and  stood  at  his 
post  until  nature,  in  a  good  physique,  had  quite  succumbed. 
Had  his  comrades  but  known  that  the  final  collapse  was  near  at 
hand,  that  their  beloved  fellow-soldier  was  marching  out  of  the 
company  street  for  the  last  time,  that  sick-call  would  have 
sounded  as  a  dirge,  and  tender  would  have  been  the  greetings 
as  he  went  to  hospital  and  death.  Beside  him  fell  in  the  man 
who  was  not  sick  but  discouraged.  Next  to  him  was  the  tricky 
fellow  who  simply  wanted  a  furlough,  and  intended  to  "play 
off"  just  enough  to  secure  it. 

But  in  that  procession  were  always  to  be  found  the  chronic 
"dead-beats,"  —  the  most  contemptible  vermin  that  ever  infest 
ed  our  grand  army;  the  worst  rubbish  that  could  encumber 
ambulance,  hospital,  or  barracks.  They  deliberately  cheated 
the  government,  the  cause,  and  everybody  concerned.  They 
were  selfish  animals,  lazy  scamps,  and  arrant  cowards.  They 
shifted  every  burden  of  duty  on  to  their  overworked  comrades, 
and  day  after  day  limped  to  the  tune  of  the  surgeon's  call,  pos 
ing  shamelessly  before  a  whole  camp  in  a  transparent  sham, 
stripping  themselves  to  an  unconscionable  littleness  in  order  to 


302  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

get  home  at  any  price,  there  to  perpetuate  the  sham  in  order  to 
defraud  the  government  out  of  a  pension,  or  perhaps  to  get  well 
marvellously,  and  perpetrate  a  second  and  even  a  third  round  of 
deception  and  rascality  in  another  regiment.  And  this  was  done 
by  men  who  pretended  to  something  of  respectability  at  home. 
Rheumatism  was  the  favorite  dodge  ;  and  the  victims  became 
not  too  helpless,  but  just  helpless  enough.  The  surgeons  well 
knew  they  were  shamming,  but  it  was  difficult  to  demon 
strate  the  fact ;  and  finally  a  discharge  was  granted,  simply  to 
abate  a  nuisance.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  peculiar  music  in 
the  surgeon's  call. 

The  calls  and  marches  accompanying  guard-mounting  at  nine 
o'clock  recur  to  the  veteran's  mind  suggestive  of  a  pleasant 
parade.  A  good  drummer  had  the  fullest  opportunity  for  dis 
playing  his  skill  while  playing  the  detail  to  the  guard-house, 
when  the  band  had  ceased  its  escort,  the  review  before  the 
officer  of  the  day  being  passed,  and  the  parade  dismissed. 
There,  too,  the  dummy  musician  —  who  enlisted  for  a  drummer, 
but  who  never  would  know  a  roll  from  a  drag  if  he  rattled  the 
sticks  to  all  eternity  —  on  those  occasions  passed  a  good  examina 
tion  for  promotion  to  the  ranks. 

Limiting  this  treatise,  for  the  moment,  to  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment,  does  not  that  wonderful  drumming  at  the  dinner-call 
touch  a  tender  chord  of  memory  ? 

We  recall  the  pleasant  face  of  our  favorite  old  drummer, 
Sanborn,  beating  the  long  roll  as  no  one  else  could  beat  it,  his 
arms  playing  all  about  him  like  forked  lightning,  his  drumsticks 
rattling  down  upon  the  doomed  head  like  half  a  dozen  magnifi 
cent  hailstorms,  each  combination  of  sounds  welling  up  and 
flying  off  like  distinct  peals  of  thunder  with  no  room  for  rever 
beration  between  the  claps.  That  genial  old  drummer,  gone  to 
his  rest,  never  dreamed  of  the  stir  he  made  in  the  bosoms  of  his 
comrades.  His  dinner-call  is  sounding  still. 

Every  call,  march,  and  air  of  drum-corps  and  band  entered 
into  the  very  life  of  a  regiment,  and  was  valued  beyond  the 
power  of  a  civilian  to  appreciate.  The  evening  calls  of  supper, 
tattoo,  and  taps,  were  full  of  music  and  meaning,  and  each 


TATTOO  AND   TAPS.  303 

breathed  forth  its  own  suggestions.  A  military  camp  at  the 
hour  of  tattoo  was  a  study ;  games,  letter-writing,  reading, 
mending,  lounging  on  bunks,  story-telling,  pondering  on  objects 
far  away  but  near  to  the  soldier's  heart — these  were  intruded 
upon  by  the  ra-a-a-at-tat-tat-tat  of  the  drum-major,  in  his  pre 
liminary  flourish,  as  he  initiated  the  stereotyped  measures  of 
the  bed-time  concert.  A  little  imagination  reproduces  the  cir 
cumstances,  the  familiar  faces,  all  the  accessories  and  incidents, 
even  to  the  oddities,  hilarity,  and  banter  which  relieved  the 
sober  tedium  of  camp  monotony,  and  the  painful  strain  of  expos 
ure  and  danger.  The  tattoo-calls  seemed  to  wake  a  thousand 
memories,  only  to  soothe  and  lull  to  rest.  It  was  a  master 
spirit  that  invented  tattoo. 

But  taps  were  hopelessly  incongruous.  They  were  always 
either  too  late  or  too  early.  If  the  sergeant  of  the  guard,  who 
perambulated  every  company  street  immediately  after  taps, 
commanding  "  Lights  out !  "  would  but  gather  up  the  comments 
which  were  occasionally  hurled  after  him,  he  could  present  the 
public  with  a  most  remarkable  and  startling  collection  of  ejacu- 
latory  literature.  It  often  occurred  that  said  executor  of  taps- 
law  was  not  more  than  three  tents  away  before  candles  were 
lighted  again,  and  penny-ante  progressed,  necessitating  another 
tour  of  the  camp  by  the  irate  sergeant.  And  something  else 
sometimes  happened,  for  the  audacious  gamester  exchanged  his 
fun  for  a  night  in  the  guard-house. 

The  acme  of  musical  demonstration  was  reached  in  the  dress- 
parade,  and  it  was  never  determined  whether  a  crack  drum- 
corps  or  a  fine  band  appeared  to  best  advantage  on  those 
occasions.  For  martial  music,  purely,  a  drum-corps  stands,  par 
excellence^  unrivalled;  while  a  band  possesses  obvious  advan 
tages,  and  constantly  tends  to  promote  the  morale,  strengthening 
the  discipline  and  elevating  the  sentiment  of  the  organization. 
One  thing  was  observed :  no  regiment  with  a  band  maintained 
a  first-rate  drum-corps.  It  could  not  be  expected  of  any  com 
mand  in  active  service.  The  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  was 
one  of  the  few  regiments  in  the  army,  which,  through  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  an  arduous  campaign,  through  swift  marches, 


304  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

rapid  retreats,  and  great  battles,  still  maintained  a  good  band 
to  play  the  jaunty  column  into  its  day's  march,  arid  the  wearied 
files  into  the  welcome  camp  at  night. 

Deviating,  through  this  one  paragraph,  from  the  general  char 
acter  of  this  chapter,  it  may  be  well  to  give  some  facts  concern 
ing  the  band  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment.  It  was  organized 
October  16, 1862,  just  previous  to  the  departure  of  the  regiment 
for  the  seat  of  war.  The  largest  number  which  the  band  ever 
mustered  was  twenty-one,  seven  of  them  coming  from  one  com 
pany,  G.  Some  of  the  members  enlisted  with  the  express 
understanding  that  they  were  to  be  detailed  as  band-musicians ; 
but  there  was  no  band  enlisted  as  such.  George  A.  Day  of 
Company  F  was  engaged  to  organize  the  band,  remuneration  to 
be  guaranteed  him  out  of  the  regimental  funds.  George  W. 
Hodgdon  of  Company  D  was  the  first  leader,  and  held  that 
position  until  his  discharge  in  June,  1863 ;  when  Mr.  Day  was 
appointed  to  succeed  him,  but  did  not  assume  direction  because 
of  absence  on  account  of  sickness.  Mr.  W.  H.  Bolster,  a  non- 
enlisted  man  from  Keene,  was  hired  to  conduct  the  band ;  and 
he  remained  its  leader  until  July,  1864,  when  he  left  the  regi 
ment  on  its  arrival  at  Fortress  Monroe  from  Louisiana.  While 
in  New  Orleans,  a  French-citizen  musician,  James  Maurepas, 
was  hired  by  the  regiment;  and  he  served  faithfully  during  the 
remainder  of  the  war,  coming  home  to  Concord  with  the  band, 
and  then  returning  to  Louisiana.  The  band  of  the  Fourteenth 
was  highly  prized,  and  its  members  faithfully  performed  their 
every  duty.  In  battle  they  did  brave  and  efficient  work  in  suc 
coring  the  wounded.  Five  of  the  original  members,  who  attended 
the  first  rehearsal  in  the  woods  at  Concord,  served  at  their  posts 
throughout  the  war,  and  played  in  the  State-House  yard  the 
night  after  the  regiment's  final  discharge.  Their  names  are 
George  A.  Day,  Morton  M.  Smith,  Frank  T.  Moffitt,  Nahum 
Mower,  and  Thomas  Mower. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  Civil  War  it  was  a  popular  notion  that 
armies  marched  to  battle  inspired  by  the  patriotic  strains  of 
bands,  and  the  martial  airs  of  fife  and  drum.  So  far  as  modern 
warfare  is  concerned,  this  is  a  pure  illusion.  Musicians  of  every 


A   REVIVING  EPISODE.  305 

name  certainly  were  found  on  the  battle-fields  of  the  Union ; 
but  with  the  exception  of  buglers,  and  those  were  rare,  they 
were  present,  not  carrying  instruments  of  music,  but  bearing 
stretchers,  etc.,  with  which  to  assist  the  wounded.  The  excep 
tions  to  this  statement  were  few.  A  military  band  was  a  real 
sanitary  auxiliary.  Men  in  the  hospital  were  invigorated  by 
the  airs  they  had  come  to  love  as  they  did  a  hymn-tune  of  their 
boyhood;  while  all  who  had  the  " blues,"  or  were  in  the  first 
stages  of  disease,  were  revived  and  strengthened. 

The  Fourteenth  Regiment  will  not  forget  the  burial  of  Gen. 
Plummer  at  Washington  in  1863,  when  all  day  under  arms  in 
the  extreme  heat,  marching  five  miles  in  slow  time  with  arms 
reversed,  and  no  refreshment,  the  return  march  to  camp,  after 
dark,  was  made  in  a  drenching  thunder-shower.  The  battalion 
was  never  in  a  sorrier  plight  than  on  that  dismal  night  at  nine 
o'clock,  when  it  filed  out  from  Pennsylvania  Avenue  up  Seventh 
Street,  with  a  mile  and  a  half  more  of  wearisome  tramp  into 
camp.  There  was  hardly  a  semblance  of  files  or  formation. 
Sand  and  water  disputed  with  the  men's  feet  for  the  occupancy 
of  their  government  brogans,  and  it  was  pitch  dark.  Suddenly, 
without  notice,  the  regimental  band,  which  had  not  paraded, 
and  had  come  down  to  meet  the  regiment,  wheeled  into  the 
head  of  the  column  and  struck  up  the  most  popular  piece  in 
their  repertoire.  To  say  that  the  instantaneous  effect  was  magi 
cal,  would  be  a  piece  of  poor  description.  First  a  cheer,  loud 
and  long,  then  a  feeling  of  marvellous  refreshment  and  renewed 
strength.  The  spirits  of  the  men  were  wonderfully  revived; 
stragglers  found  their  places  in  the  ranks ;  the  files  aligned  and 
closed  up ;  the  step  was  caught,  and  the  regiment  marched  into 
camp  easily  and  with  enthusiasm. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Potomac,  in  the  mud  of  Virginia,  on 
long  voyages  at  sea,  among  the  bayous  of  Louisiana,  and  on  the 
incomparable  pikes  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  our  band  cheered 
us  along  by  its  timely  interjections  of  stirring  strains.  But  not 
all  instrumental  music  in  the  army  was  enlivening.  Tenderly 
mournful  were  the  burial-dirges  of  band  or  drum-corps,  coining 
with  a  frequency  which  established  a  dreadful  monotony  of 


306  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

death,  the  file  of  soldiers  inarching  in  common  time,  with  arms 
reversed  ;  the  tune  being  always  that  most  beautiful  and  simple 
of  death-marches,  "  Pleyel's  Hymn." 

How  strange  to  die  as  thousands  of  our  boys  died!  how 
strange  the  funeral,  the  requiem,  the  interment  in  a  foreign  soil 
and  an  unmarked  grave  !  Every  softened  note  of  the  fife, 
every  throb  of  the  muffled  drum,  lacerated  tender  cords  iri  the 
hearts  of  surviving  comrades.  And  some  of  the  mourners  must 
soon  themselves  prolong  the  sad  procession,  with  no  drop  of 
their  family  blood  to  throb  over  their  coffins. 

But  the  music  of  the  Union  had  many  parts  and  moods  and 
renderings.  We  have  alluded  to  some  of  the  instrumental  per 
formances  ;  but  vocal  music  in  the  army  was  well-nigh  universal, 
and  in  quality  it  ranged  from  the  veriest  crudities  of  expression 
up  to  the  productions  of  skill  and  taste.  In  nearly  every  regi 
ment  the  musical  side  of  army-life  furnished  a  somewhat  curi 
ous  and  usually  interesting  stud}^.  In  many  cases  a  regimental 
glee-club  was  organized,  which  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  general 
effort  to  improve  the  talent  of  the  command.  More  frequently 
single  amateur  musicians,  without  concerted  endeavor,  devel 
oped  the  musical  ability  of  their  own  companies ;  the  different 
circles  uniting  in  grand  anthem  or  chorus  when  the  entire  bat 
talion  was  stirred  by  a  common  impulse,  or  more  closely  unified 
in  the  expression  of  an  unusual  and  all-pervading  sentiment. 

Vocal  music  became  a  part  of  the  soldier's  life  as  soon  as  the 
various  company  detachments  were  assembled  in  the  State  ren 
dezvous,  and  the  men  became  somewhat  acquainted  with  each 
other  and  their  surroundings.  It  was  in  the  long  barracks  at 
Concord ;  after  the  novel  cuisine  of  a  company  cook-house  had 
been  tested  in  the  meal  which  at  home  was  called  supper;  when 
twilight  was  mellowing  every  object  of  vision ;  the  men  were 
lounging  on  their  bunks,  — curious  substitutes  for  the  beds  just 
vacated  at  home,  —  or  sitting  on  kegs  or  boxes  in  the  alcoves 
between;  the  minds  of  all  were  very  susceptible,  for  new  and 
wonderful  phases  of  duty  and  association  were  leading  men  of 
a  steady  lifetime  into  the  realm  of  romance  and  a  strange 
experience ;  already  indescribable  thoughts  of  home  and  loved 


SONGS   OF   THE    VOLUNTEER.  307 

ones  were  beginning  to  mould  the  inner  life  of  all  the  true- 
hearted  ones  into  a  tenderer  devotion.  In  such  a  mood,  home 
behind  and  a  great  war  before,  it  was  most  natural  that  a  timely 
song  should  best  avail  to  voice  the  subtle  and  general  sentiment. 
Perfectly  congruous  with  the  occasion,  yet  rather  inappropriate 
as  it  is  recalled,  was  the  Southern  melody  which  first  trembled, 
then  swelled  through  the  barracks  of  a  Union  regiment  when 
it  was  girding  itself  for  the  sanguinary  strife.  It  seemed  inde 
scribably  sweet  to  our  boyish  imagination,  as  we  lay  there  in 
the  bottom  bunk,  on  its  fresh  government-blanket  with  the  big 
"  U.  S."  in  the  middle,  wondering  if  the  two-hundred-pound 
recruit  above  was  likely  to  fall  through  and  crush  us  ;  thinking 
also  of  the  supper-table  at  home,  and  a  plate  that  was  not  turned 
and —  might  never  be  again;  when  the  plaintive  sweet  strain 
of  the  plantation-song  stole  along  from  a  single  voice  at  the 
farther  end  of  the  barracks,  caught  up  and  augmented  in  vol 
ume  as  it  rolled  along,  whose  refrain  was,  — 

"  Alabama  again  !  Alabama  again  ! 
I'm  going  to  go  back  to  Alabama  again." 

In  the  army,  patriotic,  sentimental,  and  comic  songs  mingled 
in  grotesque  selection  :  but  the  lighter  and  more  mirth-provok 
ing  airs  made  little  headway,  while  the  questionable  songs  which 
might  be  expected  to  gain  a  place  in  the  freedom  of  unre 
strained  camp-life  were  almost  wholly  tabooed ;  certainly  they 
never  attained  any  popularity.  Some  of  the  finer  plantation 
melodies,  and  the  home  compositions  consonant  with  the  spirit 
of  the  great  era,  welled  up  in  the  rich  and  grand  vocalization  of 
the  mighty  army,  all  the  way  from  Gettysburg  to  the  Gulf, 
making  resonant  every  camp  and  bivouac  between  the  Potomac 
and  the  Rio  Grande.  Julia  Ward  Howe's  noble  hymn,  written 
in  the  inspiration  of  actual  contact  with  the  serried  hosts  of 
the  North,  pouring  down  to  crush  treason  and  its  cause,  voiced 
the  highest  sentiment  of  the  Union  army,  and  was  only  sung 
when  that  sentiment  was  evoked  by  an  occasion  which  touched 
such  a  lofty  chord. 


308  FOURTEENTH    NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

11  Mine  eyes  have  seen  the  glory  of  the  coming  of  the  Lord  ; 
He  is  trampling  out  the  vintage  where  the  grapes  of  wrath  are  stored. 
He  has  loosed  the  fateful  lightning  of  his  terrible  swift  sword, 
His  day  is  marching  on." 

Members  of  the  Fourteenth  heard  the  author  read  this  magnifi 
cent  battle-hymn  in  the  Distribution  Camp  at  Alexandria,  soon 
after  it  was  written ;  but  the  very  grandeur  of  the  piece  pre 
cluded  its  general  use.  And  there  was  one  more  popular,  and  of 
absolute  universality  wherever  the  Union  flag  was  unfurled. 
The  verses  were  varied  indefinitely  but  the  key  to  them  all 

was, — 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave, 
But  his  soul  goes  marching  on. 

Glory,  glory,  hallelujah  ! 
His  soul  goes  marching  on." 

As  the  war  dragged  on  from  months  into  weary  years,  the  song 
was  occasionally  changed,  the  air  and  chorus  being  retained :  — 

"  We'll  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour-apple  tree, 
While  we  go  inarching  on." 

The  verve  of  an  army  never  shone  out  in  such  grand  emphasis 
and  amusing  absurdity  of  expression  as  when  it  swelled  the 
chorus  to  the  above  lyrical  anathema  upon  the  petticoated 
leader  of  the  slaveholders'  Rebellion. 

This  tribute  to  the  arch-traitor  reminds  us  that  the  Johnnies 
had  their  camp-songs.  Some  of  them,  like  "Maryland,  my 
Marjdand,"  and  "  Dixie,"  were  meritorious,  and  quite  familiar 
in  the  Union  camps.  There  were  others  extant  among  the 
legions  of  the  Confederacy  which  did  not  rise  above  the  dignity 
of  doggerel.  Here  is  a  specimen  of  the  rhythmic  measures 
employed  to  fire  the  Southern  heart :  — 

"  The  South,  what  though  despotic  Abe 

Now  strive  her  power  to  kill, 
Forever  may  her  banner  wave, 
And  drive  him  at  her  will." 


SOME  REBEL   POETRY.  309 

One  of  the  Rebel  carols  is  a  glorification  of  their  valor  in 
capturing  small  Yankee  merchant-craft  with  well-manned  gun 
boats,  carrying  a  heavy  armament  of  English  cannon.  And 
thus  they  sing  their  triumphs  :  — 

"  And  when  our  bloody  work  is  done, 
We  sit  us  down  at  set  of  sun, 
And  then  recount  what  glorious  fun 
It  was  to  see  the  Yankees  run 
And  strike  their  flag  e'er  the  fight  begun." 

Just  where  the  blood  flowed  in  the  above  circumstances,  we  are 
unable  to  imagine.  The  sentiment  prevailing  among  the  South 
ern  soldiery,  and  more  especially  with  the  women  of  Rebeldom, 
is  so  well  voiced  in  one  of  their  "  battle-hymns,"  that  three 
stanzas  are  here  given,  including  the  Italics  and  punctuation  of 

the  author :  — 

"  0  Christian  Dixie's  land, 

Where  u  darkies  "  dwell  in  peace, 
Dear  Christian  Dixie's  land, 
Where  Heathen  orgies  cease. 

What  lures  to  Dixie's  land, 

Invaders  from  the  North, 
Is  it  for  Afric's  sons 

To  grace  their  household  hearth  ? 

Oh,  touch  not  Dixie's  land, 

Ye  Yankees  full  of  art! 
Her  sons  shall  ne'er  again 

Be  one  with  you  in  heart." 

If  the  poets  of  the  sunny  South  could  have  saved  the  Confed 
eracy,  it  ought  to  have  become  almost  immortal. 

To  the  soldier  musician  in  the  armies  of  the  North,  there  was 
an  indefinable  charm  in  negro-melodies ;  and  they  were  listened 
to  always  with  delight.  The  following  is  the  first  verse  of  a 
favorite  in  the  Fourteenth :  — 

"  In  the  Louisiana  Lowlands,  not  many  years  ago, 

There  lived  a  colored  gentleman, 
His  name  was  Pompey  Snow: 
He  played  upon  the  banjo, 


310  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

And  on  the  tambourine; 

And,  for  rattling  of  the  bones, 
Oh !  his  like  was  never  seen. 

In  the  Louisiana  Lowlands, 

Lowlands,  Lowlands, 

In  the  Louisiana  Lowlands  low." 

The  following  is  one  verse  of  a  song  quite  popular ;  at  one  time, 
in  and  out  of  the  army,  and  much  sung  throughout  the  country. 
The  air,  and  in  fact  the  words  almost,  have  been  appropriated 
by  the  Sunday-school  hymners. 

"  The  soldiers  are  gathering  from  near  and  from  far, 
The  trumpet  is  sounding  the  call  for  the  war  ; 
The  conflict  is  raging,  'twill  be  fearful  and  long: 
Then  gird  on  the  armor,  and  be  marching  along." 

The  songs  of  the  soldier  were  accommodated  to  his  moods. 
There  were  rollicking,  saucy  waves  of  temper  sweeping  over  a 
company  or  regiment,  when  some  soloist  would  strike  up,  and 
draw  out  a  chorus  of  tremendous  emphasis,  if  not  of  dulcet  har 
monies.  And  this  is  what  they  sang: — 

"  When  Johnny  comes  marching  home  again, 

Hurrah,  hurrah! 
We'll  give  him  a  hearty  welcome  then, 

Hurrah,  hurrah ! 

The  men  will  cheer,  the  boys  will  shout, 
The  ladies  they  will  all  turn  out, 

And  we'll  all  get 

When  Johnny  comes  marching  home." 

Sometimes  it  was  a  tender,  plaintive  note  which  sounded  the 
key  of  the  general  melody.  Beautiful,  touching,  suggestive  of 
associations  dearest  to  the  soldier,  is  that  song  so  familiar  and 
popular  during  the  latter  part  of  the  war :  — 

tt  We're  tenting  to-night  on  the  old  camp-ground: 

Give  us  a  song  to  cheer 
Our  weary  hearts,  —  a  song  of  home, 
And  friends  we  love  so  dear. 


SONGS  FROM  PRISON-PENS.  311 

Many  are  the  hearts  that  are  weary  to-night, 

Wishing  for  the  war  to  cease ; 
Many  are  the  hearts  looking  for  the  right, 

To  see  the  dawn  of  peace. 
Tenting  to-night,  tenting  to-night, 

Tenting  on  the  old  camp-ground." 

The  atrocities  and  brutal  inhumanities  of  the  Rebels  to  Union 
prisoners  drew  the  attention  and  excited  the  execration  of  the 
entire  North.  The  sympathy  awakened  in  the  army  for  the 
suffering,  perishing  comrades  in  Southern  prison-pens  intensi 
fied  the  meaning  of  the  song  expressive  of  the  soliloquies  of  the 
Union  victims,  and  enhanced  its  popularity  in  every  regiment. 
We  give  the  last  verse  and  the  chorus :  — 

"  So  within  the  prison-cell  we  are  waiting  for  the  day 

That  shall  come  to  open  wide  the  iron  door ; 
And  the  hollow  eye  grows  bright,  and  the  poor  heart  almost  gay, 
As  we  think  of  seeing  home  and  friends  once  more. 

Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys  are  marching: 

Cheer  up,  comrades,  they  will  come, 
And  beneath  the  starry  flag  we  shall  breathe  the  air  again, 

Of  the  free  land  in  our  own  beloved  home." 

There  were  two  other  songs  which  expressed  the  deep  senti 
ment,  the  grand  enthusiasm,  and  the  sublime  purpose  of  the 
Union  volunteers,  beyond  all  others  sung  around  the  loyal 
camp-fires.  The  one  first  referred  to  was  the  culminating 
music  of  the  war,  and  celebrated  the  wonderful  feat  of  strategy 
planned  by  Grant  and  executed  by  Sherman. 

"  Bring  the  good  old  bugle,  boys!  we'll  sing  another  song,  — 
Sing  it  with  a  spirit  that  will  start  the  world  along,  — 
Sing  it  as  we  used  to  sing  it,  fifty  thousand  strong, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia. 

Hurrah!  hurrah!  we  bring  the  jubilee! 
Hurrah !  hurrah !  the  flag  that  makes  you  free ! 
So  we  sang  the  chorus  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea, 
While  we  were  marching  through  Georgia." 

•  The  climax  of  musical  effort  in  the  history  of  the  Fourteenth 
was  reached  on  that  delightful  early-autumn  evening  in  the 


312  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Valley,  when  the  army,  after  a  brisk  day's  march  in  pursuit  of 
Early,  bivouacked  in  an  undulating  field,  flanked  with  forests, 
near  Charlestown.  Rails  were  plentiful ;  great  bubbling  springs 
supplied  pure  water  in  abundance ;  the  men  were  in  excellent 
trim  ;  the  enemy  was  giving  way  ;  and  the  gleeful  conversation 
about  the  big  piles  of  crackling  rails  attested  the  high  spirits  of 
the  entire  army.  The  usual  culinary  operations  had  been  per 
formed,  and  coffee  had  been  exchanged  for  chat  before  the  twi 
light  deepened.  From  around  a  conspicuous  fire  on  a  hillside, 
there  came  the  clear  notes  of  a  favorite  soloist.  From  every 
regiment  in  the  vicinity  the  song  was  re-enforced  by  the  leading 
vocalists.  Like  a  contagion  the  melody  spread ;  and,  at  every 
camp-fire  gathering  strength,  the  volume  was  swelled  and  rolled 
along  till  the  entire  army-corps  was  drawn  into  the  chorus :  — 

"  Yes,  we'll  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again, 

Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom ! 

We  will  rally  from  the  hillside,  we'll  rally  from  the  plain, 
Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom ! 

The  Union  forever,  hurrah!  boys,  hurrah! 
Down  with  the  traitor,  and  up  with  the  star! 
While  we  rally  round  the  flag,  boys,  rally  once  again, 
*        Shouting  the  battle-cry  of  freedom." 

Other  pieces  followed,  and  other  grand  outbursts  are  not  for 
gotten  ;  but  that  patriotic  vesper  hymn,  "  The  Battle-Cry  of 
Freedom,"  as  rendered  in  the  picturesque  bivouac  of  Charles- 
town,  remains  pre-eminent  among  all  the  heroic  chants  and 
choral  triumphs  of  Sheridan's  army. 


While  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  practically  ended  military 
operations  in  the  Valley,  the  tension  of  war  was  kept  up  for 
some  time.  Early  returned  to  Fisher's  Hill  within  a  week, 
having  gathered  force  enough  to  make  some  show  and  bluster ; 
but  Sheridan  never  considered  him  worth  much  attention,  save 
that  for  more  than  a  month  the  army  was  actively  vigilant,  the 
men  being  well  employed  in  picketing,  reconnoissances,  etc. 


THE  SOLDIER  AND   THE  BALLOT.  313 

November  12  Early  was  on  our  front  in  full  force,  while 
both  sides  did  considerable  manoeuvring  without  brino'ino'  on 
more  than  a  skirmish  conflict.  October  25  Lieut.  L.  W. 
Wright  assumed  command  of  Company  A. 

November  8  the  Fourteenth  voted  for  president  of  the 
United  States;  the  Union  candidate  being  President  Lincoln, 
while  those  who  denounced  the  war  as  a  failure  supported  Gen. 
George  B.  McClellan.  The  New-Hampshire  soldiers'  vote  was, 
Lincoln,  two  thousand  and  sixty-six ;  McClellan,  six  hundred 
and  ninety.  In  the  Fourteenth  it  was  four  to  one  in  favor  of 
Lincoln.  The  wonderful  success  of  Sheridan's  Valley  campaign 
was  an  important  factor  in  deciding  the  presidential  election. 

Soon  after  the  middle  of  November  the  troops  began  prepar 
ing  winter-quarters  ;  but  nothing  elaborate  was  attempted,  as 
the  men  did  not  expect  to  remain  in  the  old  Cedar-Creek  posi 
tion  during  the  winter.  The  army  of  Sheridan  had  decked 
every  mound  about  Cedar  Creek  with  the  imperishable  laurel 
of  a  dazzling  glory,  and  the  famous  position  had  served  its  end ; 
the  men  did  not  care  to  remain  unless  Early  was  to  repeat  his 
pranks  from  Fisher's  Hill. 

During  the  first  part  of  December  the  Sixth  Corps  left  the 
Valley  for  Petersburg.  Soon  after,  the  Eighth  Corps  returned 
to  Western  Virginia;  while  the  Nineteenth  Corps  daily  ex 
pected  orders  to  join  Gen.  Grant,  but  it  was  destined  never  to 
do  so.  On  the  22d  a  cavalry  reconnoissance  brought  back  the 
news  that  Early  was  finally  out  of  the  Valley.  Our  work  was 
done,  but  we  did  not  know  it. 

The  very  last  of  December  the  Nineteenth  Corps  moved 
back  from  Cedar  Creek,  through  Winchester,  to  a  position  near 
Stephenson's  Depot,  where  excellent  quarters  were  built  in 
"Camp  Sheridan."  The  practice  of  standing  to  arms  each 
morning  was*  maintained  up  to,  and  considerably  beyond,  this 
time.  A  heavy  snow-storm  greeted  the  troops  at  the  very 
entrance  to  the  new  camp,  and  there  was  an  exceedingly  un 
pleasant  state  of  things  for  a  while. 

Company  A  now  had  still  another  commander ;  Lieut.  L.  W. 
Wright  becoming  adjutant  December  6,  and  Capt.  Blanchard 


314  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

taking  command  of  the  company.  At  the  same  time  Adj.  C.  D. 
Wright  became  colonel,  and  assumed  command  of  the  regi 
ment  December  29. 


COL.   C.  D.  WRIGHT. 

Carroll  D.  Wright  was  born  in  Dumbarton,  July  25, 1840  ;  his 
father,  Rev.  N.  R.  Wright,  being  a  minister  in  the  Universalist 
Church.  From  his  birth  until  the  breaking-out  of  the  war,  his 
father  preached  successively  in  Hooksett,  Washington,  Read 
ing  (Mass.),  Alstead,  Swanzey,  and  Franklin  (Mass.).  Carroll 
was  educated  in  Washington,  Alstead,  and  Chester  (Vt.)  Acade 
mies,  and  in  1860  became  a  law-student  under  the  direction  of 
Wheeler  &  Faulkner,  in  Keene. 

At  the  time  of  his  enlistment,  September -13,  1862,  he  was  a 
law-student  in  the  office  of  Tolman  Willey,  Esq.,  Boston,  Mass., 
residing  in  the  adjoining  city  of  Cambridge.  Mr.  Wright  was 
elected  second  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  and  entered  the  service 
as  such.  February  28,  1863,  Lieut.  Wright  was  made  A.A.C. 
of  subsistence,  on  the  brigade-staff.  The  service  of  Lieut. 
Wright  in  Washington  is  partially  given  in  the  proper  place. 
June  27,  1865,  he  was  assigned  as  A.D.C.  on  the  staff  of  Gen. 
Martindale,  in  Washington.  Soon  after,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  provost-marshal's  office,  where  he  had  charge  of  the  patrols 
and  the  guards  at  bridges  and  ferries.  November  7  he  re 
turned  to  the  regiment,  and  was  made  acting-adjutant ;  and  on 
the  7th  of  the  next  month  received  his  adjutant's  commission. 

June  28,  1864,  while  the  Fourteenth  was  at  Morganzia,  La., 
Adjt.  Wright  was  again  taken  from  the  regiment,  and  made 
A.A.A.G.  of  the  brigade.  He  continued  in  this  position 
throughout  the  Valley  campaign,  discharging  his  duties  with 
marked  fidelity  and  conspicuous  ability.  He  rendered  impor 
tant  service  on  the  sanguinary  field  of  the  Opequan. 

December  28,  1864,  he  was  mustered  as  colonel  of  the  Four 
teenth,  his  commission  being  signed  by  Gov.  Gilmore,  December 
6.  When  appointed  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth,  Col.  Wright 
had  but  partially  recovered  from  a  severe  attack  of  typho- 


COL,  CARROLL  D.  WRIGHT, 


COL.    C.   D.    WRIGHT.  315 

malarial  fever ;  and  the  exposure  of  camp-life  in  winter  was  too 
severe.  He  retained  command  of  the  regiment  for  but  a  brief 
period,  yet  for  a  portion  of  that  time  he  was  in  command  of  the 
brigade.  Col.  Wright  resigned  his  commission  February  9, 
1865,  and  was  discharged  from  the  army  March  18.  Not  until 
some  time  after  the  war  closed,  did  he  measurably  recover  his 
health. 

After  the  war  closed,  Col.  Wright,  the  third,  last,  and  only 
living  colonel  of  the  Fourteenth,  resumed  his  law-studies ;  and 
in  October,  1865,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Keene.  Col. 
Wright's  intention  of  settling  down  to  the  practice  of  law  in 
Keene  was  frustrated  by  his  broken  health,  and  he  engaged  in 
the  furniture  business.  Recovering,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Boston,  and  began,  in  October,  1867,  the  practice  of  patent- 
law  with  great  success.  In  1871  he  was  elected  to  the  Massa 
chusetts  Senate,  and  re-elected  the  next  year.  In  1873  he  was 
appointed,  by  Gov.  Washburn,  Chief  of  Bureau  of  Statistics  of 
Labor  ,•  which  office  he  now  holds,  and  in  which  he  is  a  recog 
nized  authority  throughout  the  country  and  the  world. 

In  1876  Col.  Wright  was  a  Republican  presidential  elector 
for  Massachusetts,  and  served  as  the  secretary  of  the  State 
electoral  college.  He  took  the  census  of  Massachusetts  in  1875 
and  in  1880.  In  1879  Col.  Wright  delivered  a  course  of  lectures 
before  the  Lowell  Institute,  and  was  a  University  lecturer  at 
Harvard  in  1881.  He  is  an  expert  on  the  factory  system  for 
the  United-States  census,  and  has  officially  investigated  the 
system  in  Europe. 

A  bare  statement  of  the  services  of  Col.  Wright  is  sufficient. 
His  eminent  fitness  for  the  highest  position  in  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment  is  unquestioned  ;  and  throughout  the  existence  of  the 
organization  Col.  Carroll  D.  Wright  helped  to  make  it  what  it 
was  at  its  best,  and  was  and  is  an  honor  to  it. 


December  6,  1864,  Capt.  F.  L.  Tolman,  of  Company  E,  was 
made  major  of  the  Fourteenth.  He  continued  in  command  of 
the  regiment  until  the  29th,  when  Col.  Wright  assumed  the 
authority. 


316  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


V. 

THE     GEORGIA     CAMPAIGN. 

IT  was  the  lot  of  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  to  round  out  its 
service  and  close  its  career  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  in  a 
most  interesting  if  not  dramatic  manner.  Its  final  experiences 
were  less  thrilling  and  imposing  than  those  of  the  veterans  who 
confronted  Lee  at  Five  Forks  and  Appomattox ;  yet  its  last 
months  of  duty  in  the  South,  while  not  easy  nor  free  from  the 
dread  ravages  of  disease,  were  still  constantly  eventful  and  full 
of  somewhat  novel  episodes.  An  entirely  new  field  was  entered  ; 
and  the  scenes  and  services  of  the  regiment  in  1865  were  impor 
tant  to  the  organization  itself  in  placing  it  among  those  who 
saw  most  of  the  Southern  country,  and  encountered  the  war  in 
most  of  its  varied  phases. 

Suppose  the  Fourteenth  had  remained  in  the  Valley  until 
mustered  out :  its  final  service  must  have  proved  tame,  and  its 
end  unsatisfactory.  As  it  was,  the  regiment  was  in  scenes  of 
excitement  to  the  close  of  the  war ;  and,  in  fact,  bore  a  share 
in  the  culminating  event,  —  the  capture  of  the  arch-traitor,  the 
petticoat  hero,  the  starver  of  our  Union  boys,  the  still  unrecon 
structed,  rabid  Rebel,  Jefferson  Davis.  Furthermore,  the  Four 
teenth  enjoyed  the  rare  opportunity  of  studying  life  in  the  heart 
of  the  South,  during  the  secession  era,  but  after  the  Rebellion 
was  practically  crushed,  and  in  a  locality  where  a  Yankee  soldier 
had  never  before  been  seen.  The  Southern  life  of  the  olden 
time  was  all  undisturbed;  and  society,  under  the  "peculiar 
institution,"  was  not  broken  up,  although  upon  the  verge  of 
irretrievable  collapse. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1865,  the  second  division  of  the  Nine- 


MAJOR  F.   L.    TOLMAN.  317 

teenth  Corps  left  its  winter  camp,  and  quitted  the  Valley  for 
ever.  It  was  but  the  initiatory  step  to  the  dissolution  of  the 
organization ;  for  while  the  first  division  remained  in  the  Valley 
until  April  20,  the  order  discontinuing  the  grand  old  Nineteenth 
Corps  was  issued  from  the  War  Department,  March  20.  Sheri 
dan  left  Winchester,  February  17,  and  marched  up  the  Valley 
to  Waynesborough  with  all  the  cavalry,  where  he  captured  the 
remnant  of  Early's  army,  the  apple-jack  hero  himself  barely 
escaping  with  a  small  guard.  Our  corps  commander,  Gen. 
Emory,  remained  at  Stephenson's  Depot  in  command  of  the 
troops. 

When  Sheridan  left  the  Valley  to  join  Grant,  Gen.  W.  S. 
Hancock  took  command  of  the  department,  and  at  once  made 
himself  immensely  unpopular  by  issuing  an  order  forbidding  all 
men  in  the  ranks  to  wear  boots.  It  was  an  unnecessary  and 
contemptible  order,  and  caused  much  suffering  in  the  midst  of 
the  prevailing  snow,  ice,  and  mud. 

A  portion  of  the  second  division  left  the  valley  on  the  5th  of 
January,  1865  ;  but  the  Fourteenth  did  not  start  until  the  6th. 
At  eight  A.M.  the  line  was  formed ;  at  one  P.M.  the  regiment 
took  the  train,  reaching  Harper's  Ferry  at  three,  and  there  tarry 
ing  until  six  o'clock.  Major  Tolman  was  again  in  command, 
Col.  Wright  having  gone  to  the  hospital  seriously  sick. 


MAJOR  F.  L.  TOLMAN. 

Flavel  L.  Tolman  was  born  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  May  4, 1840. 
He  left  home  when  but  eight  years  old,  there  being  a  large  fam 
ily  ;  and  from  that  time  he  earned  his  own  living.  For  the 
first  four  years  after  leaving  home  he  worked  on  a  farm,  for  his 
board,  clothing,  and  schooling,  —  very  little  of  the  latter. 

When  thirteen,  he  determined  upon  bettering  his  situation, 
and  started  for  the  city.  Securing  a  position  in  a  store  for  two 
weeks,  he  remained  four  years,  rising  rapidly  to  a  responsible 
position.  But  he  never  forgot  his  rural  home,  and  never  lost 
his  taste  for  farm-life,  —  a  point  wherein  he  happily  differed 
from  the  average  country  boy  hurrying  to  the  city.  Mr.  Tol- 


318  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

man  showed  the  true  grit  and  industry  in  his  earlier  years,  con 
tending  with  obstacles  which  would  have  abashed  a  less  resolute 
youth. 

When  nineteen  years  old  he  bought  a  farm,  and  married 
Eliza  Brown  of  Templeton,  Mass.,  his  bride  being  but  seven 
teen.  When  the  war  broke  out,  the  necessities  of  business  and 
the  ties  of  home  restrained  him  sufficiently  to  induce  him  to 
forego  his  desire  to  enter  his  country's  service.  But  in  1862  he 
determined  to  go,  and  enlisted  in  Company  G,  in  August. 

He  entered  the  service  as  orderly-sergeant,  and  March  1, 
1863,  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant.  He  was  advanced 
to  a  first  lieutenantcy  October  17,  1863.  On  the  1st  of  Janu 
ary,  1864,  Lieut.  Tolman  became  captain  of  Company  E ;  and 
December  6,  of  the  same  year,  he  became  major  of  the  regi 
ment.  It  will  be  seen  that  Major  Tolman's  rise  was  rapid,  and 
he  was  possessed  of  eminently  popular  qualities.  There  were 
few  officers  in  the  Fourteenth  so  generally  and  so  highly  es 
teemed  by  the  men  throughout  the  regiment.  While  captain, 
he  commanded  the  regiment  immediately  after  the  battle  of 
the  Opequan,  and  thereafter  until  its  arrival  in  Harrisonburg. 

As  major,  he  again  commanded  the  regiment,  from  the  resig 
nation  of  Col.  Wright  until  the  commissioning  of  Lieut.-Col. 
Marston.  Major  Tolman  won  a  most  honorable  position  in  the 
service  of  his  country ;  and,  in  the  crucial  hour  of  battle,  his 
fortitude  and  coolness  commanded  the  high  respect  of  all  whom 
he  led. 

After  his  return  to  civil  life  Major  Tolman  suffered  severely 
from  disease,  but  afterward  was  fully  restored  to  health ;  and 
has  since  had  the  direction  of  one  of  the  finest  stock-farms  in 
New  England. 

IN   HOSPITAL. 

A  single  colossal  feature  of  the  war  illustrated  the  progress  of 
civilization,  and  the  curious  contradictions  of  modern  warfare. 
In  fact,  the  American  people  were  noble  in  their  sanitary  char 
ity,  and  the  government  was  mercifully  inconsistent :  securing 
every  ingenious  device  for  killing  men ;  demanding  of  its  de- 


THE   SICK  SOLDIERS. 


319 


fenders  an  endurance  and  sacrifice  which  could  only  result  in 
disability  for  a  terrible  percentage  of  the  quotas  mustered, — it 
astonished  the  world,  and  shamed  the  martial  powers  of  Europe, 
in  the  wonderful  extent,  completeness,  and  humanity  of  the  ap 
pliances  for  ministering  to  the  sick  and  wounded  of  our  armies, 
as  well  as  for  the  disabled  prisoners  taken  from  the  enemy. 

The  veteran  who  appreciates  the  magnificent  enterprise  and 
administration  of  the  government,  in  its  care  for  the  diseased, 
wounded,  and  crippled  defenders  of  the  Union,  will  not  only 
refrain  from  all  harsh  criticism,  but  will  award  the  full  meed  of 
praise.  Such  a  system  of  general  hospitals,  so  furnished  and 
supplied,  the  world  has  never  seen.  The  medical  staff,  the 
remedies  and  appliances,  the  ambulance  department,  the  rail 
way  transportation  of  the  sick  and  wounded, —  all  the  details 
affecting  the  safety,  comfort,  and  restoration  of  patients,  —  were 
managed  with  an  efficiency  surpassing  the  expectation  of  the 
most  sanguine. 

That  there  were  cruel  suffering,  privation,  and  exposure,  can 
not  be  denied ;  and  there  were  instances  when  "  somebody 
blundered."  Such  mishaps  and  sufferings  were  inevitable  inci 
dents  of  a  great  war,  and  were  cheerfully  risked  by  the  brave 
men  who  could  suffer,  as  well  as  die,  without  complaining.  No 
roseate  and  inexperienced  view  is  here  presented.  The  writer, 
badly  wounded,  was  obliged  to  tramp  a  long  way  on  foot,  after 
a  great  battle,  and  then  endure  transportation  during  a  whole 
night,  reclining  on  the  bottom  of  a  government-wagon  with  no 
springs,  a  little  straw  keeping  him  and  four  suffering  comrades 
from  the  hard  flooring.  Jolting  over  a  rough  road  in  such  a 
plight  for  sixteen  hours  is  not  a  discipline  calculated  to  prompt 
any  undeserved  laudation  of  Uncle  Sam's  sanitary  facilities : 
but  we  understood  that  the  government  was  doing  its  best ; 
and  when  in  that  old  church  at  Martinsburg,  in  the  early  morn 
ing,  we  lay  down  for  rest  and  the  sweet  refreshment  of  deli 
cious  coffee  and  soft  bread ;  and  when  the  train  bore  us  on,  on, 
out  of  the  flash  and  flame  and  death-grip  of  a  sanguinary  cam 
paign,  into  the  wondrous  rest,  peace,  and  healing  of  the  palatial 
wards  of  Mower  General  Hospital,  Chestnut  Hill,  Philadelphia, 


320  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

—  we  thanked  God  for  a  government  whose  resources  and  ten 
derness  were  alike  inexhaustible. 

The  United-States  hospital-service  involved  many  factors. 
If  a  soldier  survived  to  reach  one  of  the  monster  sanitary 
asylums  referred  to,  everj^  chance  for  life  he  possessed  was 
carefully  conserved.  The  difficulty  lay  back  of  that.  Every 
observer  knew  that  a  surgeon  on  the  battle-field  or  in  a  field- 
hospital  was  a  reckless  amputator.  It  was  less  trouble  to  lop  off 
a  limb  than  to  restore  it  to  use  again.  Cruel  and  criminal  was 
much  of  their  needless,  hideous  carving.  Yet  there  were  occa 
sions  when  such  a  reflection  would  have  been  unjust.  When 
the  wounded  came  in  by  cords,  overwhelming  the  weary  sur 
geons,  amputation  or  neglect  were  alternative ;  and  the  latter 
generally  meant  death. 

In  the  regimental,  post,  and  general  hospitals,  angels  bright 
and  ubiquitous  ministered  patiently  and  nobly  to  the  suffering 
ones.  The  nurses,  male  and  female,  were  worthy  almoners  of 
the  grand  charities  they  represented.  In  the  darkness  and  sick 
ening  atmosphere  of  that  church  in  Martinsburg,  Va.,  where 
several  hundred  men  lay  so  thick  that  moving  was  difficult, 
there  was  witnessed  a  spectacle  which  glorified  woman,  and 
woman's  work  for  the  soldiers  of  the  Union,  in  a  manner  which 
left  an  indelible  impression  upon  all  who  were  privileged  to  see. 
A  lovely  woman,  possessing  to  a  remarkable  degree  the  charms 
of  her  sex,  was  there  ministering  to  the  groaning  company.  A 
stalwart  soldier,  who  had  just  lost  a  leg  at  Cedar  Creek,  strug 
gled  on  to  his  one  foot,  and  essayed  to  move  across  the  church. 
He  was  unequal  to  the  task ;  when  that  woman  stepped  to  his 
side,  placed  her  shoulder  under  his  own,  and  supported  him  in 
the  disagreeable  journey.  Her  service  there  was  an  unspeaka 
ble  sacrifice,  and  the  incident  is  adduced  only  to  illustrate  a 
devotion  so  common  that  its  gentleness  and  worth  and  beauty 
were  not  adequately  valued.  It 

"  Showed  us  how  divine  a  thing 
A  woman  may  be  made." 


WOMAN'S  DEVOTION.  321 

This  heroic  devotion  was  made  possible,  and  was  supple 
mented,  by  the  universal  uprising  and  enduring  endeavors  of 
the  women  throughout  the  North  who  remained  at  home. 
Organized  into  ladies'  aid-societies,  the  fertility  of  invention, 
delicacy  of  adaptation,  and  volume  of  results,  were  beyond  com 
putation.  Every  community  throughout  the  several  States 
helped  to  swell  the  immense  contributions  of  comforts  and 
delicacies  which  found  their  way  to  every  camp  and  hospital 
where  human  weakness  and  suffering  were  clad  in  the  honored 
blue. 

The  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions  were  the  agencies 
for  distribution ;  the  latter  organization  adding  to  its  efforts  in 
the  direction  of  physical  relief  a  systematic  provision  for  the 
intellectual  and  spiritual  wants  of  the  soldiers.  This  commis 
sion  recognized  the  fact  that  a  soldier  was  a  man,  with  manly 
aspirations  and  an  eternal  destiny.  The  warnings,  invitations, 
and  consolations  of  the  Christian  faith  were  most  appropriately 
brought  home  to  those  who  existed  in  the  closest  proximity  to 
the  realm  of  immortality.  Both  the  Sanitary  and  Christian 
Commissions  were  so  admirably  managed  that  they  won  the 
indorsement  of  government  and  the  confidence  of  the  whole 
army. 

Life  in  hospital  was  exceedingly  agreeable  to  the  volunteer 
up  to  the  period  of  convalescence,  when,  if  he  was  ambitious, 
it  became  irksome.  There  were  those  who  exhausted  every 
artifice  to  remain  as  long  as  possible,  but  most  of  the  men  re 
turned  to  their  commands  with  alacrity.  There  was  one  class 
of  men  in  the  army,  which  was  made  useful  as  nurses,  and  they 
might  as  well  have  been  enlisted  as  such,  for  they  were  worth 
less  in  the  ranks:  so  it  came  about  that  the  hospitals  were 
manned  by  those  volunteers  who  naturally  took  to  nursing,  but 
were  beyond  the  age  of  active  service.  One  man  in  the  Four 
teenth  was  sixty-three  years  old  when  mustered,  but  passed  for 
forty-five. 

Camp  Distribution,  near  Alexandria,  was  the  inevitable  and 
undesirable  outlet  from  hospital  to  regiment,  although  the  pro 
visions  for  comfort  and  entertainment  were  excellent.  Several 


322  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

thousand  men  were  there  constantly  ;  an  ever-shifting  company 
waiting  for  transportation  to  their  regiments,  and  often  waiting 
for  months. 

A  soldier's  regiment  was  his  home,  but  it  was  a  very  nomadic 
institution.  Wounded  members  of  the  Fourteenth  left  their 
command  in  Northern  Virginia,  and  rejoined  it  in  the  southern 
portion  of  Georgia.  The  sick  side  of  a  soldier's  life  was  always 
pathetic,  frequently  pitiable.  To  be  shot  down  in  battle  was 
to  die  like  a  man ;  but  to  waste  away,  far  from  home,  losing 
day  by  day  the  vitality  and  ambition  of  life,  was  a  transforma 
tion  to  be  dreaded  by  the  victim  and  deplored  by  his  comrades. 
But  to  mitigate  this  calamity,  and  to  heal  the  gaping  wounds 
of  battle,  the  power,  the  philanthropy,  and  the  Christian  conse 
cration,  of  the  land  united  in  a  purpose  and  an  achievement 
which  stands  as  one  of  the  crowning  glories  of  the  age. 


The  transportation  of  the  regiment  out  of  the  Valley  suggests 
the  romance  and  vicissitudes  of  railroading  throughout  Upper 
Virginia  during  the  war.  Every  mile  of  road  had  its  episode. 
At  Martinsburg  occurred  the  wholesale  destruction  of  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  Railroad  property  by  Stonewall  Jackson.  After  bat 
tering  out  of  all  former  semblance  such  machinery  as  he  could 
not  make  use  of,  and  burning  the  coaches,  cars,  and  buildings, 
Jackson  determined  upon  carrying  away  with  him  six  or  eight 
of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  engines.  The  familiar  remark,  to  the 
effect  that  a  man  would  carry  off  a  red-hot  stove  if  it  were  not 
for  the  difficulty  in  handling  it,  would  seem  to  apply  to  the 
making-off  with  half-a-dozen  locomotives  with  no  rail  upon  which 
to  run  them.  This  obstacle,  however,  did  not  deter  Stonewall 
from  getting  away  with  the  locomotives ;  one  of  his  officers  so 
rigging  them  up  that  powerful  teams  managed  to  pull  them 
back  through  the  country  to  a  railway-line  in  possession  of  the 
Confederates,  upon  which  they  were  placed  and  used  during  the 
war. 

This  same  officer,  who  accomplished  results  which  hardly  any 


WAR   RAILROADING. 

other  man  would  have  thought  of  as  practicable,  was  afterward 
the  master  of  transportation  of  the  road  from  which  he  confis 
cated  the  engines. 

The  Fourteenth  became  quite  familiar  with  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  road,  and  traversed  the  beautiful  sections  of  country 
which  it  penetrates,  under  rather  unfavorable  conditions  for 
tourist  enjoyments :  yet  few  of  the  veterans  can  forget  the 
importance  of  the  road  to  ourselves  or  the  marvellous  beauty 
of  its  routes. 

"  During  all  the  stormy  and  disastrous  years  of  the  war,  the  management 
proved  the  master-hand  at  the  helm.  Running  through  the  reports  of  that 
period  of  calamity  and  distraction,  the  same  indomitable  tone  is  manifested, 
—  the  unflinching  purpose  and  the  determined  will  to  conquer  difficulties. 
The  road  first,  all  else  after  it. 

'*  No  man  rendered  greater  service  to  the  country  in  her  darkest  hours  of 
peril,  and  no  instrument  could  have  been  more  powerful  in  rendering  this 
assistance,  than  an  unobstructed  railway.  Bridges  were  burned,  only  to  be 
replaced  the  following  day.  Miles  of  track  were  torn  up,  and  put  down  again 
almost  before  the  destroying  forces  were  gone  from  sight.  Engines  were 
stolen,  and  new  ones  filled  their  places  as  rapidly  as  wheels  could  be  turned 
in  covering  the  distance.  Entire  trains  were  sacrificed  to  the  flames,  tele 
graph-wires  demolished,  and  station-houses  razed  to  the  ground,  and  disaster 
followed  upon  disaster.  The  main  stem  of  the  road  penetrated  the  heart  of 
war  operations;  and,  increase  as  might  the  destruction  following  in  their 
wake,  the  unshakable  man  in  Baltimore  devised  counter  movements,  and 
was  a  very  Napoleon  in  strategic  force  and  quickness  of  action." 

At  eight  A.M.,  January  7,  the  Fourteenth  arrived  in  Baltimore, 
and  remained  there  three  days  awaiting  transportation.  A  por 
tion  of  the  regiment  occupied  barracks,  while  the  remainder 
went  into  tents.  On  the  10th  the  regiment  went  on  board  the 
steamship  "  Ariel,"  and  about  noon  of  the  next  day  the  steamer 
sailed.  On  the  morning  of  the  12th  the  "Ariel''  arrived  at 
Fortress  Monroe,  and  in  the  afternoon  sailed  through  Hampton 
Roads  to  Newport  News,  where  the  men  went  ashore.  The 
next  day  they  re-embarked,  and  started  for  Savannah. 

On  the  night  of  the  15th  the  vessel  lay  off  Port  Royal,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  16th  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Savannah  River ;  and  on  the  17th  the  Fourteenth  reached  its 
destination. 


324  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

During  the  war  Savannah  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
cities  of  the  South.  It  was  compact,  regularly  laid  out,  pic 
turesquely  located,  and  its  streets  were  bountifully  adorned  with 
shade-trees.  Some  of  the  streets,  notably  Broad  Street,  were 
wide  avenues  containing  four  rows  of  trees;  the  centre  rows 
forming  a  continuous  park.  When  the  war  broke  out,  the  city 
contained  about  twenty  thousand  inhabitants. 

Savannah  was  a  favored  city  throughout  the  conflict  until 
near  its  close,  and  was  not  subject  to  the  ravages  of  war.  It 
was  a  thriving  port  of  contraband  trade  for  the  Confederacy, 
and  its  inhabitants  were  prosperous  beyond  most  sections  of 
Rebeldom.  Savannah  was  an  intensely  Rebel  town,  and  the 
Fourteenth  found  it  conquered  but  not  subdued. 

When  the  second  division  occupied  Savannah,  the  troops  were 
taken  up  the  river  on  small  transport-steamers ;  a  narrow  cut 
having  been  made  through  the  river  barricade  which  had  proved 
an  effectual  bar  to  the  passage  of  Union  gunboats.  This  barri 
cade  was  sunk  about  three  miles  below  the  city,  at  Fort  Jack 
son.  The  Rebel  government  of  Savannah  had  torn  up  the  fine 
stone  paving  of  Whitaker  Street  with  which  to  fill  and  sink  the 
pontoon  obstructions,  and  relegated  one  of  the  best  streets  in 
the  city  to  a  sand-bank  or  mud-hole,  according  to  the  season. 

When  the  Fourteenth  entered  Savannah,  Sherman's  army 
was  leaving  it ;  the  inhabitants  bitterly  hating  the  "  Yankee 
bummers."  The  city  was  in  a  peculiar  condition.  Terror,  hate, 
doubt,  foreboding,  were  sentiments  which  predominated  among 
the  inhabitants  at  first.  The  civil  government  was  entirely 
superseded :  the  city  was  taken  entirely  out  of  the  hands  of  its 
inhabitants,  and  was  governed  by  military  officials  through 
out  ;  one  of  the  Fourteenth  men  being  a  street-commissioner. 
Not  a  citizen  of  Savannah  had  a  store  or  a  shop  open :  the 
trading  was  all  done  by  permits  from  the  commanding  general ; 
business  of  every  kind  was  dead ;  and  the  railroad  communica 
tion  had  been  destroyed  by  Rebel  and  by  Union  troops,  from 
opposite  motives. 

Savannah  was  a  body  corporate  in  a  state  of  suspended  ani 
mation.  The  Fourteenth  was  at  once  assigned  to  provost-duty, 


7^  SAVANNAH.  325 

and  it  was  done  in  a  manner  to  inspire  confidence  and  win  the 
respect  of  the  Rebel  partisans.  The  regiment  was  more  expe 
rienced  and  proficient  in  provost-duty  than  any  other  in  the 
department;  and  its  excellent  discipline  and  reliable  service  was 
a  potent  factor  in  restoring  confidence,  and  reviving  a  sentiment 
favorable  to  the  government,  at  a  critical  period. 

The  Fourteenth  was,  with  the  exception  of  the  two  first  days, 
quartered  in  buildings  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  until  the  last  of 
February,  when  it  went  into  camp  in  stockaded  A  tents,  in  a 
railroad  cotton-yard  west  of  the  city.  It  was  also  relieved  of 
all  special  duty  in  the  city  at  the  same  time.  The  duty  of  the 
regiment  in  the  city  began  on  the  19th. 

On  the  27th  the  last  of  Sherman's  army,  the  Twentieth  Corps, 
left  Savannah  to  join  his  force  moving  through  South  Carolina. 
On  the  28th  occurred  an  extensive  conflagration,  involving  the 
destruction  of  the  arsenal  filled  with  shells  and  other  dangerous 
explosive  combustibles.  Details  of  the  Fourteenth  heroically 
removed  shells  from  the  burning  magazine  until  they  began  to 
explode.  Pieces  of  shells  were  thrown  into  all  parts  of  the  city ; 
and  the  troops  were  obliged  to  withdraw  to  the  shelter  of  a  safe 
distance,  and  allow  the  fire  to  take  its  course  until  the  next 
day.  The  scene  was  one  of  great  excitement  and  terror  among 
the  inhabitants. 

An  immense  number  of  refugees  flocked  to  Savannah  after 
its  occupation  by  the  Union  army.  White  Unionists  who  had 
been  hiding  in  the  mountains,  swamps,  and  forests  of  Georgia, 
South  Carolina,  and  Northern  Florida,  to  escape  the  conscription; 
deserters  from  the  Rebel  army ;  and  sufferers  from  Sherman's 
march,  —  sought  the  protection  of  the  Union  lines,  many  of  them 
utterly  destitute. 

Thousands  of  negroes  followed  in  Sherman's  trail,  some  of 
them  travelling  hundreds  of  miles  in  the  search  for  freedom. 
During  the  winter  strenuous  efforts  were  made  by  the  Rebel 
authorities  to  prevent  their  escape  to  Savannah.  They  were 
pursued  by  bloodhounds,  and  often  shot  down  like  dogs  when 
caught;  and  sometimes,  out  of  a  large  number  who  started  from 


326  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  interior,  only  two  or  three  would  reach  Savannah,  and  these 
in  a  most  forlorn  condition. 

To  provide  for  the  colored  refugees  and  the  most  destitute  of 
the  whites,  refugee-camps  were  established,  under  the  charge 
of  Lieut.  M.  M.  Holmes,  of  Company  H. 

What  to  do  with  the  negro,  was  a  vexed  problem  to  the  gov 
ernment  ;  and  in  the  absence  of  any  settled  policy  each  army- 
commander  acted  largely  according  to  his  own  views. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  1865,  Gen.  Sherman  issued  General 
Order,  No.  15,  which  provided  that  "  The  islands  from  Charles 
ton,  south,  the  abandoned  rice-fields  along  the  river  for  thirty 
miles  back  from  the  sea,  and  the  country  bordering  on  the  St. 
John's  River  in  Florida,  are  reserved  and  set  apart  for  the  set 
tlement  of  the  negroes  now  made  free  by  the  acts  of  war  and 
the  proclamation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States." 

Gen.  Rufus  Saxton  was  appointed  "  Inspector  of  Settlements 
and  Plantations,"  and  a  regular  system  of  settlement  of  the  sea- 
islands  was  adopted.  These  islands  are  very  rich,  and  produce 
the  celebrated  sea-island  cotton.  A  steamboat  made  regular  trips 
between  Savannah  and  the  islands ;  and  providing  each  man, 
woman,  and  child  with  rations  for  thirty  days,  Lieut.  Holmes 
sent  forward  over  twenty  thousand  between  January  and  July, 
while  many  others  were  found  employment  in  Savannah  and 
elsewhere.  Scantily  clad,  and  weakened  by  the  hardship  and 
exposure  experienced  in  reaching  Savannah,  many  died  during 
the  winter ;  but  in  the  spring  and  early  summer  the  mortality 
was  small,  which  was  partly  owing  to  the  weather,  and  partly 
to  the  better  regulations  of  the  camp. 

Corpl.  H.  E.  Poor  was  detailed  at  the  white  camp.  With  few 
exceptions,  the  refugees  here  did  not  remain  long,  but  found 
employment  or  a  place  to  stay  elsewhere ;  many  of  them,  how 
ever,  still  drawing  government  rations.  For  many  weeks  after 
the  capture  of  Savannah,  almost  the  entire  population  drew 
rations  from  the  government. 


A   JOLLY  DETAIL. 


FORT   PULASKI. 


327 


March  5  Capt.  C.  P.  Hall,  with  his  company  (C)  and  enough 
men  from  the  rest  of  the  regiment  to  make  up  the  number  to 
sixty,  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  take  steamer  for  Fort 
Pulaski.  They  did  not  get  off  till  the  next  morning,  owing  to 
lack  of  transportation.  They  landed  at  the  fort  about  nine 
o'clock,  and  relieved  the  troops  who  were  occupying  it.  Capt. 
Hall  took  command  of  the  fort  and  the  adjacent  islands. 

Fort  Pulaski  is  situated  on  Cockspur  Island,  Ga.,  at  the  head 
of  Tybee  Roads,  commanding  both  channels  of  the  Savannah 
River.  The  position  is  a  very  strong  one.  It  was  captured 
from  the  Rebels  in  April,  1862,  by  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  after  a 
bombardment  of  thirty-two  hours.  Its  capture  demonstrated 
the  fact— new  to  this  country  — that  bricks  and  mortar  cannot 
stand  before  rifled  cannon.  The  walls  of  the  fort,  seven  and 
one-half  feet  thick,  and  twenty-five  feet  high  above  high  water, 
were  battered  down  so  as  to  make  two  openings  through  to 
the  casemates,  and  the  ditch,  forty-five  feet  wide,  upon  the  out 
side  of  the  fort,  was  so  filled  with  the  debris,  that  the  troops 
marched  through  the  opening  when  they  took  possession  of  the 
fort. 

At  the  time  the  fort  was  occupied  by  the  Fourteenth,  the 
breach  had  been  repaired ;  but  shells  were  still  sticking  in  the 
walls  in  several  places.  It  had  an  armament  of  sixty  guns, 
ranging  from  twelve-pounder  James  rifles  to  ten-inch  Colum- 
biads  and  hundred-pounder  Parrott  rifles;  twenty-two  thousand 
pounds  of  power,  a  proportionate  amount  of  shot  and  shell,  and 
all  the  material  necessary  to  make  the  outfit  of  an  old-line  fort 
complete. 

This  opened  a  new  field  to  our  boys.  Capt.  Hall  received  an 
order  the  next  day  after  he  took  command  to  drill  his  men  regu 
larly  upon  the  heavy  guns.  They  did  not  know  the  difference 
between  a  casemate  and  a  barbette  gun,  a  Columbiad  and  a 
Parrott,  the  chase  of  a  cannon  and  the  re-enforce.  But  a 
search  brought  a  copy  of  heavy-artillery  tactics,  and  the  next 
mail  from  New  York  another:  so  that  a  fortnight  had  not 


328  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

elapsed  before  the  boys  were  somewhat  familiar  with  sponge 
and  rammer  and  handspike ;  and  three  months  had  riot  passed 
before  they  responded  as  readily  to  the  commands,  "Load!" 
"  In  battery  !  "  "  Fire ! "  as  to  the  "  Right-shoulder-shift—arms !  " 
of  their  musket  drill. 

During  our  stay  there,  we  fired  over  two  thousand  pounds  of 
powder  in  salutes,  one  hundred  and  fifty  guns  at  the  surrender 
of  Lee,  and  two  hundred  guns  upon  the  day  of  public  mourning 
for  President  Lincoln.  We  were  differently  situated  here  from 
any  other  place  in  our  service.  The  river  abounded  in  fish  and 
the  very  nicest  oysters ;  and  the  boys  had  them  fried,  stewed, 
fricasseed,  "  on  the  half  shell,"  and  many  another  way  suggested 
by  the  ingenuity  of  a  soldier.  There  was  a  bakery  connected 
with  the  fort,  so  that  the  boys  had  soft  bread  instead  of  hard 
tack. 

We  had  communication  with  Savannah  and  Hilton  Head 
(S.C.),  by  telegraph  and  steamer.  We  had  a  number  of  sail  and 
row  boats,  with  a  good  boat's  crew  who  could  make  quick  trips 
to  Savannah,  eighteen  miles  away,  when  the  steamers  were  not 
frequent  enough.  Many  of  the  boys  enjoyed  more  boating  and 
sea-bathing  here  than  in  all  their  lives  previous. 

On  the  15th  of  May,  Chief-Justice  Chase,  then  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  along  the  coast,  visited  the  fort,  accompanied  by  his 
daughter  and  Gen.  Gillmore,  in  command  of  the  department. 
As  they  came  up  the  river,  they  were  received  by  the  "  regula 
tion  "  salute  of  fifteen  guns.  During  the  three  hours'  stay, 
Gen.  Gillmore  explained  to  the  distinguished  visitor,  from  sev 
eral  positions,  the  details  of  his  remarkable  siege  of  three  years 
before.  As  Judge  Chase  stepped  on  board  the  steamer  to 
proceed  on  his  tour,  he  said  to  Capt.  Hall,  taking  his  hand, 
"  Captain,  when  you  write  to  your  friends,  tell  them  that  a 
New-Hampshire  boy  has  been  to  see  you." 

During  our  stay  at  Fort  Pulaski,  an  order  was  received  to  be 
on  the  lookout  for  a  Rebel  ironclad  which  was  expected  some 
where  along  our  coast.  From  the  first,  a  schooner  carrying  a 
thirteen-inch  mortar  had  lain  in  the  Roads,  below  the  fort, 
ready  for  any  emergency;  and  now  a  gunboat,  commanded  by 


OFFICIAL    WHISKEY.  329 

Commodore  Morris  of  "  Merrimac  "  and  "  Monitor  "  notoriety, 
was  sent  into  the  river  opposite  the  fort.  The  mortar-schooner 
also  moved  up  and  took  position  just  below  the  gunboat.  A 
plan  of  signals  was  agreed  upon,  so  that  the  action  could  be  con 
certed  if  the  anticipated  visitor  should  appear.  But  the  conflict 
was  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  the  Rebel  cruiser  never  appeared 
on  this  side  the  sea.  Had  the  attempt  been  made  to  pass  up  the 
river,  the  plan  was  to  sink  the  schooner  across  the  channel  oppo 
site  the  fort,  and  to  fight  her  with  a  battery  of  four  hundred- 
pounder  Parrrott  guns,  stationed  behind  a  breastwork  of  sand  just 
at  the  water's  edge ;  while  the  gunboat  would  fight  from  above 
the  schooner. 

But  little  use  was  to  be  made  of  the  fort.  It  must  be  said, 
that,  at  one  of  the  interviews  for  arranging  the  plan  of  action, 
Commodore  Morris  was  so  beastly  drunk  as  to  unfit  him  for 
any  business ;  and  during  the  three  weeks  of  his  stay,  I  never 
saw  him,  on  ship  or  shore,  when  he  was  not  under  the  influence 
of  liquor.  And  this  is  the  man  of  whom  the  poets  have  sung  as 
"  the  gallant  Morris."  In  fact,  it  has  been  told  me  that  in  that 
very  action  with  "  The  Merrimac,"  he  was  much  of  the  time 
below  deck  and  "very  wearjV  while  his  lieutenant  was  man 
aging  "  The  Cumberland."  Liquor  was  the  curse  of  our  army, 
and  its  blighting  touch  was  felt  even  in  the  Fourteenth. 

At  midnight  upon  one  of  the  last  days  of  May,  a  war-vessel 
steamed  up  the  river,  anchored  off  the  wharf,  and  sent  a  boat 
ashore.  Upon  landing,  the  corporal  of  the  guard  escorted  the 
two  officers  which  the  boat  contained  to  the  fort ;  where  they 
presented  papers  showing  that  they  were  from  Richmond,  Va., 
with  orders  to  deliver  three  very  important  prisoners  into  the 
custody  of  the  fort.  These  were  the  noted  Rebels  Campbell  and 
R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  famous  in  connection  with  the  peace  negotia 
tions  early  in  1861,  —  the  latter  once  Secretary  of  State  of  the 
Confederacy,  —  and  ex-Secretary  of  War  Siddons.  Lieut.  King, 
with  a  suitable  guard,  conducted  the  prisoners  from  the  boat ; 
and  they  were  given  two  rooms,  where  they  were  kept  closely 
confined  at  night,  while  in  the  daytime  they  were  allowed-  the 
privileges  of  the  inside  of  the  fort,  always  under  the  eye  of 
the  guard. 


330  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

Campbell  and  Siddons  were  tall,  spare  men,  of  the  Clay  type 
of  Southrons,  very  morose  and  exclusive  in  their  manner;  but 
Hunter  was  one  of  those  fat,  "jolly  good  fellows,"  who  soon 
become  acquainted  and  make  friends  wherever  they  go,  how 
ever  uncongenial  the  elements  by  which  they  are  surrounded. 
The  very  next  morning  he  began  negotiations  with  the  boys  to 
get  him  some  whiskey  from  Savannah,  giving  them  greenbacks 
to  make  the  purchase  and  get  something  for  their  trouble.  He 
would  talk  very  freely  of  political  matters,  and  seemed  espe 
cially  to  delight  in  recalling  memories  of  his  twelve  years  in 
the  United-States  Senate,  speaking  of  the  character  of  its  mem 
bers,  and  relating  incidents  of  Congressional  life.  He  was  a 
good  story-teller,  and  candid  in  his  judgment  of  men. 

Nothing  could  be  drawn  from  the  others  save  the  briefest 
answers  to  questions  proposed.  Upon  their  landing  at  the 
wharf,  Siddons  handed  his  valise  to  one  of  the  boys  to  bring  to 
the  fort,  half  a  mile  distant;  but  the  "Northern  clodhopper" 
turned  upon  the  Southern  aristocrat,  saying,  "I  have  quit  car 
rying  carpet-bags  for  Rebels ;  "  and  the  gentleman  realized  on 
that  midnight  march  that  things  are  not  as  they  were. 

Early  in  May,  Fort  Pulaski  was  made  the  quarantine-station 
for  Savannah,  and  the  post-surgeon  was  appointed  quarantine- 
officer.  We  were  ordered  to  place  a  twelve-pounder  upon  the 
wharf,  and,  in  case  vessels  refused  to  heave  to,  fire  across  their 
bows  to  remind  them  of  what  was  required.  The  next  morn 
ing  Commodore  Morris  came  on  shore,  and  asked  what  that 
gun  meant.  Upon  being  told,  he  said,  "/have  control  of  these 
waters.  If  you  fire  upon  any  vessel,  I  shall  consider  it  an  insult, 
and  shall  open  upon  the  fort  at  once."  He  was  told  that  he 
could  do  so  if  he  thought  best.  But  there  was  no  occasion  for 
his  putting  his  threat  into  execution.  Upon  reporting  the  mat 
ter  the  next  day  to  Gen.  Grover,  commanding  the  district,  he 
replied,  "  You  have  your  orders." 

The  detachment  was  relieved  June  5,  and  returned  to  the 
regiment  at  Savannah.  Lieut.  King,  who  had  been  detailed  in 
March  as  acting  assistant  commissary  of  subsistence,  acting 
assistant  quartermaster,  and  provost-marshal  of  the  post,  was 


PARADES  AND  REVIEWS.  331 

not  relieved  till  about  ten  days  after  the  detachment.  Those 
who  were  at  Fort  Pulaski  have  some  of  the  pleasautest  memo 
ries,  of  the  time  spent  there,  of  their  entire  army  life. 


Early  in  March  the  convalescent  wounded  men  returned  to 
the  regiment  in  considerable  numbers,  thirteen  arriving  by  one 
boat  on  the  1st. 

Sunday,  the  5th,  the  regiment  had  dress-parade.  On  the  6th 
the  entire  division  was  reviewed  by  Inspector-Gen.  Williams ; 
and  the  next  day  the  quarters  were  inspected  by  Gen.  Williams, 
accompanied  by  the  division  and  brigade  commanders. 

March  11  Lieut.  A.  W.  Richardson  took  command  of  Com 
pany  F,  a  position  which  he  held  to  the  end.  About  this  time 
it  was  rumored,  that,  while  the  division  was  to  leave  the  city, 
the  Fourteenth  would  remain.  Many  officers  in  the  regiment 
occupied  important  positions  in  the  city,  and  the  administrative 
phases  of  military  duty  were  growing  in  responsibility  as  the 
final  collapse  of  the  Rebellion  approached.  The  excellent 
morale  of  the  Fourteenth,  together  with  its  peculiar  fitness  for 
the  service  then  required,  made  it  probable  that  it  would  re 
main.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th  the  regiment  was  again 
inspected  by  one  of  Gen.  Grover's  staff. 

In  the  afternoon  the  regiment  changed  its  camp,  moving  into 
A-tents,  half  a  mile  south  of  the  city,  about  on  a  continuation 
of  Whitaker  Street  with  the  fine  parade-ground  between  the 
camp  and  the  city.  The  boys  will  remember  the  magnificent 
park  at  the  head  of  Bull  Street,  and  on  the  edge  of  the  city 
nearest  the  camp. 

On  the  14th  the  regiment  voted  for  State  officers.  We  are 
unable  to  give  the  totals,  but  in  Company  F  there  were  seven 
Republican  and  three  Democratic  votes  cast.  On  the  17th  the 
Ninth  Conn,  remembered  St.  Patrick's  Day,  also  their  own  dis 
grace  in  the  Valley ;  and  they  made  a  fine  parade  through  the 
principal  streets.  On  the  18th  the  brigade  of  colored  troops 
stationed  in  the  city  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  Williams,  and  made 
a  remarkably  fine  appearance. 


332  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

On  the  21st,  fatigue-details  from  the  regiment  began  work  on 
the  defences  two  miles  east  of  the  city.  The  immense  half- 
moon  breastworks  of  the  Rebels  were  deemed  inadequate,  and 
a  desperate  attempt  to  recover  Savannah  to  the  Confederacy 
was  among  the  possibilities  to  be  provided  for. 

Daring  the  latter  part  of  March,  diarrhoea  was  prevalent  in 
the  regiment. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  24th  the  troops  were  reviewed  by 
Gen.  Grover,  and  directly  following  the  parade  of  the  white 
regiment  came  a  review  of  the  colored  brigade.  The  Fifty- 
fourth  Mass.,  especially,  made  a  fine  appearance  on  the  march. 

A  brigade  dress-parade  on  the  26th,  with  a  review  of  the 
brigade,  marked  an  era  in  the  associations  of  the  Fourteenth  ;  as 
the  old  first  brigade  was  dissolved,  and  the  Eighth  and  Eigh 
teenth  Ind.  became  a  part  of  the  brigade,  with  the  colonel  of 
the  Eighth,  Brev.  Brig.-Gen.  W.  W.  Washburn,  as  brigade 
commander.  He  became  popular  with  the  Fourteenth,  and  he 
was  a  man  of  decided  ability.  On  the  29th  came  the  monthly 
inspection ;  and  April  1  the  brigade  was  reviewed  by  Gen. 
Washburn,  while  on  the  2d  there  was  a  brigade  dress-parade. 

These  parades  and  reviews  were  continued;  and  we  have 
alluded  to  them  particularly  in  order  to  show  the  excellent 
state  of  discipline  maintained  in  the  Fourteenth,  while  in  so 
many  commands  there  was  a  laxity,  as  the  war  drew  to  a  close, 
which  amounted  almost  to  demoralization  among  those  troops 
not  immediately  confronting  the  enemy. 

The  quartermaster,  at  this  time,  issued  a  novel  but  timely 
article,  —  a  mosquito-netting.  Not  half  the  men  knew  how  to 
adjust  them  to  advantage;  and  some,  in  disgust,  cut  them  up, 
and  spread  the  pieces  over  the  head  at  night. 

April  12  the  writer  went  with  the  excursion,  on  the  steamer 
"  Blackstone,"  to  Hilton  Head  and  Charleston.  The  officers  of 
the  department  participated  in  a  grand  ball  at  Hilton  Head, 
given  by  Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore  and  staff,  and  then  proceeded  to 
join  in  the  celebration  connected  with  raising  the  original  flag 
on  Fort  Sumter,  which  Major  Anderson  hauled  down  to  the 
enemy  in  1861,  and  which  Gen.  Anderson  raised  again  with  his 
own  hands  April  14,  1865. 


OUR   COLORS   ON  SUMTER.  333 

It  was  a  notable  event ;  and  when,  as  the  battle-scarred 
ensign  touched  the  peak,  the  flags  waved,  the  score  of  bands 
struck  up  patriotic  airs,  the  shouts  of  the  assembled  thousands 
welled  up  from  within  those  battered  walls,  and  the  thunders  of 
more  than  one  hundred  cannon  from  forts,  batteries,  and  men- 
of-war,  shook  the  very  harbor,  —  then  it  seemed  that  the  down 
fall  of  a  cursed  conspiracy  and  the  triumph  of  the  Union  were 
fittingly  proclaimed  on  ground  desecrated  by  the  one  and  for 
ever  hallowed  by  the  other. 

Six  flags  of  our  brigade  were  taken  to  Fort  Sumter  on  this 
occasion  by  the  color-sergeant  of  the  Fourteenth,  by  order  of 
Gen.  Washburn ;  and  the  colors  of  the  regiment  were  rarely 
flung  to  the  breeze  amid  more  enthusiasm  than  was  stirred  on 
the  sand-bags  and  debris  of  ruined  but  grand  old  Sumter. 
And  yet  on  the  evening  of  that  gala-day  in  Charleston  Harbor, 
while  the  ships  were  brilliant  and  the  waters  a  blaze  of  light 
from  the  splendid  naval  illumination,  —  at  that  ver}r  hour  the 
noble  and  beloved  war  President,  of  a  Union  restored,  was  shot 
down  by  a  Rebel  assassin.  The  news  did  not  reach  the  troops 
in  Savannah  until  the  18th. 

The  army  loved  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  sincerely  mourned  his 
loss;  sorrow  being  tempered  by  the  strong  desire  for  an  adequate 
expression  of  the  universal  indignation. 

April  22  Capt.  O.  H.  Marston  of  Company  K,  having  been 
made  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment,  assumed  command,  and 
held  it  until  the  battalion  mustered  out  of  service.  No  colonel 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Col.  Wright,  because  of  an  insufficient 
number  of  men  to  allow  of  more  than  two  field-officers. 

On  the  25th  the  troops  of  the  post  were  reviewed  by  Gen. 
Q.  A.  Gillmore,  commander  of  the  department.  On  the  30th 
the  regiment  was  mustered  for  pay,  and  the  same  day  a  report 
was  received  of  Johnston's  surrender  to  Sherman. 

May  2  the  troops  in  Savannah  paraded  in  memory  of  the 
martyred  President,  minute-guns  being  fired  all  day.  It  was 
ordered  that  regimental  colors  be  draped  for  six  months. 

Thus  the  army  witnessed  great  dramatic  contrasts,  and  expe 
rienced  wonderful  revulsions  of  feeling.  It  was  but  a  few  days 


334  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

before,  when,  in  the  wild,  glad  delirium  of  joy,  and  the  intoxica 
tion  of  triumph,  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  were  celebrating  the 
downfall  of  Richmond  and  the  surrender  of  Lee.  Some  of  the 
Fourteenth  boys  engaged  in  the  combination-whiskey  ration 
business  to  such  an  extent,  that,  in  celebrating  the  fall  of  Rich 
mond,  they  were  found  in  a  lethargy  equal  to  that  into  which 
the  Southern  Confederacy  had  fallen. 

However  the  grand  old  Army  of  the  Potomac  might  rest  on 
its  arms,  we  in  Savannah  were  impressed  with  the  feeling  that 
great  vigilance  and  activity  were  indispensable  farther  south. 
No  one  could  predict  what  the  desperate  Southrons  might  do. 

It  was  asserted  that  the  scattered  fragments  of  the  Rebel 
armies  would  retire  to  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and 
Georgia,  and  there  continue  the  struggle.  Again,  it  was  feared 
that  the  South  would  be  overrun  and  converted  into  a  realm  of 
terror  by  marauding  guerilla-bands.  Among  the  possibilities 
was  the  attempt  to  retain  the  Gulf  States,  contracting  the  Con 
federacy  to  narrower  bounds.  Jeff  Davis  had  escaped ;  and  it 
was  not  known  what  fanaticism  he  might  be  able  to  excite,  and 
maintain  for  an  indefinite  time.  No  one  anticipated  the  actual 
and  utter  collapse  which  so  directly  followed  Lee's  surrender. 
The  Fourteenth  expected  to  see  important  service  before  seces 
sion  should  be  finally  and  indisputably  stamped  out. 

May  3  Gen.  Washburn  took  his  brigade  out  for  drill,  and  it 
was  never  handled  in  better  fashion.  The  day  was  made  gala 
and  conspicuous  in  Savannah  by  the  firing  of  nine  hundred 
guns,  and  by  other  demonstrations,  in  honor  of  Lee's  surrender. 

On  the  5th  the  Fourteenth  received  orders  to  be  ready  to 
march  at  once. 

The  stay  of  the  regiment  had  been  pleasant.  Most  of  the 
officers  occupied  better  quarters  than  any  they  had  previously 
enjoyed.  Important  positions  were  held  by  officers  and  men. 
The  rank  and  file  enjoyed  remarkable  privileges.  Acquaint 
ances  and  even  friends  were  made ;  while  it  is  to  be  just 
whispered  that  several  of  the  Yankee  boys  became  "  engaged  " 
to  the  Savannah  girls,  —  some  of  the  troths  being  plighted  in 
good  faith.  Members  of  the  regiment  were  engaged  in  teaching 


A    SNARLING   SOLDIER.  335 

in  the  colored  evening-schools,  and  in  many  ways   ties  were 

being  formed  which   made   a    continuance   in   Savannah  very 

agreeable.      But   the   instability  of  military  associations  with 
places  was  emphasized  by  the  order  alluded  to. 


THE  VOLUNTEER  GRUMBLER. 

Among  the  grievous  chronic  complaints  with  which  perhaps 
every  camp  and  regiment  was  afflicted,  that  of  growling  won 
for  itself  a  distinguished  consideration.  There  was  hardly  a 
company  which  could  not  boast  of  its  champion  fault-finder ;  and 
this  unhappy  patriot  never  enjoyed  a  fair  day,  a  good  ration,  or 
a  brilliant  dress-parade. 

His  cursing,  apparatus  anticipated  all  the  triumphs  of  the 
Gatling  gun,  and  he  was  at  all  times  judicially  impartial  in  the 
delivery  of  his  denunciatory  volleys. 

If  he  was  a  pest,  it  is  to  be  set  to  his  credit  that  he  saved 
carnp-life  from  monotony :  if  his  constant  refrain  was  miserere, 
and  he  ever  demonstrated  himself  an  unabatable  nuisance,  still 
he  formed  a  handy  and  legitimate  butt  for  jokes,  and  often 
unwittingly  gendered  and  diffused  a  tonic  joviality  throughout 
his  company  street ;  while  some  of  his  ilk  were  promoted  to  be 
patriarchs  of  discontent,  their  surpassing  qualities  as  unmiti 
gated  scolds  entitling  them  to  a  regimental  or  even  wider 
notoriety. 

This  unamiable  defender  of  the  flag  vented  his  lugubrious 
whines  on  all  occasions,  and  he  astonished  the  raw  recruits  by 
the  promiscuousness  of  his  complaints.  His  plaint  anticipated 
reveille,  and  survived  tattoo.  After  listening  to  his  hourly  dia 
tribes  for  about  two  years,  we  became  accustomed  to  them,  and, 
if  not  so  eagerly  anticipated,  they  were  at  least  as  familiar,  as 
the  dinner-call  or  taps ;  and  if  by  any  miracle  his  howls  could 
have  ceased  for  a  day,  a  sense  of  loss  would  have  pervaded  the 
entire  battalion. 

But  he  never  died ;  he  never  was  shot ;  he  was  so  tough  that 
diarrhoea  or  chills-and-fever  never  could  make  any  respectable 
headway  in  his  system  ;  he  never  was  in  hospital,  except  long 


336  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

enough  to  get  some  points  against  surgeons,  nurses,  diet,  and 
medicines.  Whatever  was,  was  wrong  with  our  snarling  com 
rade  ;  and  it  was  with  great  pity  that  we  pondered  the  possibili 
ties  of  his  home  life.  There  he  must  have  been  a  tyrant :  in  the 
army  he  was  a  fangless  serpent.  If  he  remained  in  camp,  he 
declared  that  he  never  got  a  chance  at  a  good  thing ;  if  he  was 
detailed  for  duty,  he  complained  that  the  hardest  service  always 
fell  to  his  lot.  The  rations  were  either  poor  or  insufficient. 
Somebody  was  constantly  taking  some  advantage  of  him :  he 
was  always  losing  something,  and  darkly  hinting  at  theft. 

He  had  not  character  enough  to  warrant  knocking  him  down, 
and  in  games  of  meanness  he  took  the  laurel  at  every  joust. 
There  was  nothing  sly  about  the  growler :  he  showed  a  bare 
breast,  and  the  spot  which  in  ordinary  men  held  a  soul  was 
transparent  on  all  occasions.  His  "  cussedness  "  was  genuine, 
rugged,  and  artlessly  open.  He  always  escaped  punishment  for 
any  infraction  of  discipline,  for  what  court-martial  would  so 
demean  itself  as  to  try  him?  and  "  general  repulsiveness  "  coujd 
not  be  adjudicated  or  recompensed  even  on  a  "  drum-head." 

It  can  be  inferred  that  there  was  small  chance  for  getting 
even  with  this  nuisance.  He  annihilated  single  antagonists  by 
a  discharge  of  sewage-wrath,  of  which  he  had  an  undisputed 
monopoly. 

A  general  attack  he  received  with  complacency ;  torrents  of 
gibes,  sneers,  and  denunciation  merely  serving  as  grateful  appe 
tizers  for  the  next  ration.  In  fact,  the  only  occasions  on  which 
"  Old  Incorrigible  "  was  thoroughly  happy  were  those  when  he 
was  being  thoroughly  abused.  He  enlisted  with  a  whine, 
served  his  full  time  with  an  unending  growl,  and  was  mus 
tered  out  with  a  ribald  curse. 

While  the  reader  may  be  assured  that  this  character  is  not  in 
the  least  overdrawn,  he  must  also  understand  that  its  illustra 
tions  were  few  and  far  between. 

"  Nature  hath  framed  strange  fellows  in  her  time." 

"  God  made  him,  and  therefore  let  him  pass  for  a  man." 


IN  THE  PINE  FORESTS.  337 

At  4.30  A.M.,  May  6,  the  Fourteenth  broke  camp  in  Savan 
nah,  and  at  seven  o'clock  marched  out  of  the  city  across  the 
rice-swamps,  westward,  and  into  the  splendid  hard-pine  forests 
so  abundant  in  Georgia.  The  column,  under  our  brigade  com 
mander,  Gen.  Washburn,  consisted  of  the  Fourteenth,  the 
Twelfth  and  the  Fourteenth  Me.,  the  Eighth  Tnd.,  and  a  sec 
tion  of  the  Third  K.  I.  Battery.  We  were  informed  that 
Augusta  was  our  destination  ;  that  we  were  to  go  via  Sister's 
Ferry,  where  the  steamer  would  form  our  temporary  base  of 
supplies.  It  was  important  that  Augusta  should  be  occupied 
by  a  Union  force,  and  there  was  sufficient  hazard  in  the  expedi 
tion  to  relieve  it  from  all  monotony,  or  suspicion  of  uselessness. 
The  first  day's  march  was  a  hard  one,  in  oppressive  heat  and 
almost  intolerable  dust,  while  no  water  could  be  obtained 
throughout  the  forenoon.  The  column  halted  at  1.30  P.M.,  and 
bivouacked  in  the  woods,  having  marched  thirteen  miles.  On 
the  7th,  reveille  sounded  at  two  A.M.;  and  at  four  o'clock  the 
brigade  was  in  column.  A  bridge  being  down  over  Ebenezer 
Creek,  a  detour  of  five  miles  was  necessary.  The  march  this 
day  was  through  long  stretches  of  forest.  Halted  at  noon,  and 
bivouacked  in  a  beautiful  pine-grove,  five  miles  from  Effingham 
C.H.,  having  marched  seventeen  miles. 

On  the  8th  the  march  was  resumed  at  4  A.M.,  the  Eighth 
Ind.  leading  the  column.  The  different  regiments,  by  turn,  led 
the  march.  A  cloudy,  rainy  day.  Sister's  Ferry  was  reached 
at  four  P.M.,  marching  seventeen  miles;  and  the  boat  was 
waiting  for  us.  Three  days'  rations  were  issued,  and  three 
more  loaded  upon  wagons.  Several  sick  ones  were  transferred 
to  the  boat. 

It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  there  were  but  eight  compa 
nies  of  the  Fourteenth  in  this  expedition  ;  Company  C  was  at 
Fort  Pulaski,  while  H  was  on  special  duty  in  Savannah.  The 
column  left  Sister's  Ferry  at  seven  A.M.,  the  men  being  in 
excellent  spirits,  cheering ;  while  the  bands  led  off  with  lively 
airs,  the  Fourteenth  being  in  advance,  and  a  brisk  lead  the 
regiment  made  of  it. 

There  was  an  exciting  competition  between  the  regiments,  in 


338  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  matter  of  speed,  on  this  march ;  and  the  Fourteenth  was 
considerably  chagrined  to  find  that  the  Indiana  boys  could  de 
cidedly  outmarch  it.  For  yelling,  and  "  loping  off "  at  an 
unconscionable  gait,  those  Hoosiers  were  pre-eminent.  They 
should  have  been  distinguished  for  something :  they  certainly 
were  not  for  fighting,  at  the  Opequan. 

Another  topic  served  to  keep  things  lively  on  this  march. 
The  Fourteenth  Me.  was  a  veteran  regiment ;  had  been  home 
on  the  "  veteran  furlough,"  and  had  recently  returned  in  an 
entirely  new  outfit.  There  were  a  good  many  new  officers,  and 
some  of  them  —  possibly  the  colonel —  did  not  quite  sense  the 
situation  in  relation  to  red  tape,  etc.  The  men  were  made  to 
carry  knapsacks,  packed  according  to  regulations,  —  the  other 
regiments  had  hardly  a  score  of  knapsacks  throughout,  —  and 
their  blankets  must  be  neatly  rolled.  The  officers  marched  in 
full  dress,  and  insisted  upon  keeping  the  files  rigidly  dressed 
and  distanced,  all  the  time.  The  officers  were  certainly  well- 
intentioned,  but  they  did  not  exactly  appreciate  the  best  methods 
of  enforcing  discipline.  They  might  have  considered  that  the 
war  was  over,  or  nearly  so ;  that  the  weather  was  hot,  the  road 
dusty,  and  the  inarching  hard.  They  were  unreasonably  and 
unmercifully  guyed,  but  they  deserved  some  of  it.  Another 
consideration  assisted  in  swelling  the  torrent  of  ridicule  heaped 
upon  this  battalion  by  the  wicked  members  of  other  commands. 
The  three-years'  volunteer  had  about  an  equal  contempt  for  a 
nine-months'  man  and  a  veteran  enlistment,  —  that  is,  a  three- 
years'  man  who  re-enlisted  just  before  his  term  expired,  in  con 
sideration  of  a  furlough  and  another  bounty.  The  latter  con 
tempt,  must,  in  all  candor,  be  ascribed  partially  to  envy.  At 
any  rate,  the  Fourteenth  poked  a  great  deal  of  fun  at  the  Pine- 
tree  vets. 

"What  did  you  get?"  —  "A  cow  and  a  calf  and  a  bale  of 
hay!"  —  "Get  one  more  bounty,  and  Uncle  Sam'll  make  you 
mounted  infantry  !  "  —  "  What  do  they  carry  those  knapsacks 
for  ?  "  —  "  That's  what  they  carry  their  bounty  in  ! "  And  when 
some  officer,  fully  uniformed  and  equipped,  —  there  was  not 
one  such  in  the  Fourteenth  at  this  time,  —  was  noticed,  striv- 


GUYING   THE    VETERANS.  339 

ing  to  hold  his  men  up  to  the  strict  order  of  inarch,  he  was 
made  a  most  unhappy  target. 

"  Give  that  calf  more  rope  !  "  —  "  Let  him  alone,  and  he  will 
hang  himself  ! "  etc.,  were  the  remarks,  which  cculd  not  be 
traced  either  to  the  maker  or  the  object,  but  they  were  easily 
heard.  Some  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  this  march 
will  be  found  portrayed  in  the  article  entitled  "  The  Negro." 

At  two  P.M.  of  the  9th,  the  bugler  sounded  the  halt ;  and 
the  brigade,  having  made  fifteen  miles,  bivouacked  at  Poor 
Bobbin's  Tavern.  On  the  10th  the  Fourteenth  Me.  led  the 
column,  and  the  other  regiments  pressed  it  hard,  the  Indiana 
boys  twice  marching  clean  by  their  Maine  comrades ;  but  a  stop 
was  at  once  put  to  that  manoeuvring. 

On  the  llth  the  Eighth  led  off  ;  and  a  real  John-Gilpin  race 
they  led  us,  stretching  out  the  day's  work  to  eighteen  miles. 
Gen.  Washburn's  splendid  gray  horse  was  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  these  marches. 

On  the  12th  the  Fourteenth  was  in  the  advance,  and  sixteen 
miles  were  covered.  The  march  to  Augusta  demonstrated  that 
the  Eighth  alone  was  superior  to  the  Fourteenth  in  marching 
qualities.  This  afternoon  the  bivouac  was  made  near  Wayues- 
boro',  on  Brier  Creek. 

We  were  in  excellent  territory  for  foraging,  and  pork  was 
abundant.  There  was  little  compunction  over  this  extra  com 
missariat,  for  we  were  passing  the  plantations  of  Rebel  officers 
of  high  rank.  The  colored  population  literally  swarmed  in 
upon  the  troops.  In  some  companies  there  were  more  darkies 
than  soldiers  carrying  muskets. 

On  the  13th  the  column  was  en  route  at  four  A.M.,  and  made 
twelve  miles  before  noon.  A  halt  of  four  hours  ;  and  six  miles 
more  were  covered,  when  the  column  camped  within  six  miles  of 
Augusta. 

We  were  in  one  of  the  most  delightful  sections  of  the  whole 
South,  —  a  really  magnificent  country,  unscathed  by  war,  and 
with  no  hint  of  its  terrible  desolations.  The  Rebel  Gen. 
Wheeler  was  brought  into  camp,  a  captive. 

The  next  morning  the  brigade  was  in  motion  at  four  o'clock ; 


340  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

and  at  seven-thirty  the  Yankees  entered  Augusta,  in  a  kind  of 
triumphal  procession;  bands  playing,  and  colors  flying,  —  the 
first  Union  soldiers  ever  seen  in  the  city.  The  Fourteenth  at 
once  occupied,  as  barracks,  an  idle  shoe-manufactory,  which 
had  turned  out  a  good  deal  of  work  for  the  Rebel  armies.  The 
Fourteenth  marched  up  Broad  Street  to  these  barracks,  which 
were  on  Ellis  Street ;  while  the  rest  of  the  brigade  kept  on  to 
the  arsenal,  to  take  possession,  and  hold  it. 

Ascending  to  the  eminences  overlooking  Augusta,  the  North 
erner  cannot  fail  to  be  impressed  with  the  scene  about  him, 
semi-tropical  and  of  transcendent  beauty.  Verily,  the  dream  of 
a  splendid  Southern  empire  was  not  a  baseless  fantasy.  There 
was  much  to  stimulate  such  an  idea,  and  we  must  believe  that 
the  mind  of  the  North  did  not  wholly  appreciate  the  sincere 
devotion  of  the  Southern  people  to  their  cause.  There  was 
enough  in  it  to  arouse  the  ardor  and  chivalric  daring  of  the  very 
best  and  manliest  element  in  the  South.  There  was  not  enough 
in  it  to  make  it  right ;  and  the  unhappy  people  were  fighting  the 
whole  tendency  of  the  age,  and  endeavoring  to  stem  the  irre 
sistible  drift  of  destiny.  Let  the  Union  volunteer  concede  all 
that  he  ought,  to  the  foe  which  so  gallantly  and  untiringly 
opposed  him.  They  believed  in  the  righteousness  of  their 
cause  ;  and,  in  their  woful  blindness,  they  fought  on  to  their 
own  destruction.  It  has  been  said  that  only  the  politicians 
engendered  and  perpetuated  the  strife.  Never  was  a  falser 
explanation  proposed.  The  Southern  people  were  in  that  strug 
gle,  and  their  souls  were  fired  by  the  principles  behind  it.  The 
exceptions  do  not  affect  the  truth  of  this  statement.  To  the 
Southern  mind,  the  conception  of  a  mighty  Southern  empire  was 
a  grand  one.  They  did  not  rise  into  the  grander  thought  of  a 
free  land,  an  indivisible  Union,  majestic  in  its  sway,  revered 
from  the  pine  to  the  palm,  and  admired  on  every  continent, 
not  for  itself,  but  for  what  it  was  and  could  be  —  to  man. 

If  the  stay  of  the  Fourteenth  in  Augusta  was  brief,  it  was 
eventful ;  and  it  was  scarcely  settled  in  its  quarters  before  it 
was  called  upon  to  perform  an  extraordinary  service,  one  which 
no  regiment  among  all  the  loyal  legions  had  witnessed,  and 
which  no  other  ever  should  participate  in. 


INTO  AUGUSTA.  341 

At  two  P.M.  forty  extra  rounds  of  ammunition  were  issued  to 
the  men,  and  the  officers  were  directed  to  load  their  revolvers. 
There  was  a  smack  of  the  serious  in  these  preparations,  and 
rumors  were  as  numerous  as  the  negro  fugitives. 

The  following  graphic  account  of  our  celebrated  escort-duty 
is  furnished  by  Capt.  J.  W.  Sturtevant. 

The  brigade  had  encamped  the  night  previous  in  a  beautiful 
grove  six  miles  outside  the  city.  In  entering  the  town  the 
march  was  up  Broad  Street,  through  crowds  which  lined  both 
sides  of  the  wide  avenue,  largely  made  up  of  negroes  and  mem 
bers  of  Wheeler's  cavalry,  who  had  come  into  the  city  the  day 
before,  and  surrendered  their  arms  at  the  United-States  Arsenal. 
The  negroes  made  no  attempts  at  concealing  their  delight;  and 
the  obeisances  of  the  aged  uncles  and  aunties,  as  they  uttered 
their  heart}?-  "  Bress  de  Lord !  we  knew  you'd  come ! "  left  no 
room  to  doubt  the  sincerity  of  their  welcome. 

Wheeler's  cavalry,  in  their  ragged  uniforms  of  every  shade  of 
butternut,  looked  on  in  sullen  silence.  After  reaching  the  head 
of  Broad  Street,  the  Fourteenth  countermarched,  and  moved 
down  the  street  to  the  shoe-shop  barracks.  Immediately  after 
the  occupancy  of  the  building,  a  guard  was  placed  at  every  exit 
from  the  building ;  and  the  entire  command  was  kept  in  close 
quarters  until  afternoon.  All  efforts  to  learn  the  cause  of  this 
unusual  proceeding  were  unsuccessful,  but  rumors  were  abun 
dant  and  alarming. 

Still  in  ignorance  of  destination  or  duty,  the  regiment  was 
marched,  early  in  the  afternoon,  to  Telfair  Street,  a  thorough 
fare  leading  from  the  depot  to  the  steamboat-landing  at  the 
lower  part  of  the  city.  On  this  street  the  entire  regiment  was 
deployed  in  squads  of  three  men  and  a  non-commissioned  offi 
cer,  and  at  intervals  of  about  ten  rods.  The  instructions  were, 
to  keep  the  street  clear,  allowing  only  persons  residing  in  Tel- 
fair  Street  to  pass  to  their  homes,  and  then  requesting  them  to 
remain  there ;  to  prevent  all  gathering  of  crowds  at  the  street- 
corners,  and  to  report  at  regimental  headquarters  any  unusual 
gathering  or  commotion.  Doors,  windows,  and  blinds  were 


342  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

closed  on  all  the  houses  on  the  street ;  and  the  anxious  looks  of 
the  occupants,  as  they  occasionally  peered  from  a  half-opened 
blind,  plainly  indicated  their  fear  that  something  serious  was 
likely  to  happen. 

During  the  afternoon  citizens  reported  the  rumor  as  current 
among  the  residents,  that  President  Davis  had  been  captured, 
and  was  to  be  brought  through  the  city  on  his  way  to  the 
North.  Crowds  began  to  gather  at  the  street-corners,  increas 
ing  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  the  execution  of  instructions 
almost  impossible.  About  five  o'clock,  the  whistle  of  a  loco 
motive  drew  the  crowd  towards  the  railroad -station.  All 
Augusta  was  out  of  doors,  and  crowding  into  the  streets  that 
crossed  Telfair. 

The  writer  was  stationed  at  the  corner  of  Telfair  and  Wash 
ington  Streets,  about  half-way  from  the  depot  to  the  steamboat- 
landing.  Fronting  on  both  these  streets  was  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Chew  ;  gathered  in  her  parlors  and  on  the  veranda  were  the 
elite  of  Augusta,  including  Mrs.  Howell,  sister  of  Jeff  Davis, 
Mrs.  John  Morgan,  widow  of  the  Rebel  cavalryman,  and  others. 
Directly  across  the  street  were  the  buildings  of  the  Georgia 
Medical  College,  then  used  as  a  Confederate  hospital :  a  hun 
dred  or  more  one-legged  and  one-armed  Confederates  occupied 
the  grounds  as  interested  spectators. 

Washington  Street  on  both  sides  was  completely  packed,  the 
larger  part  of  the  crowd  being  Wheeler's  cavalrymen.  All  eyes 
were  turned  toward  the  depot :  presently  a  procession  came  in 
sight.  In  advance  were  half  a  dozen  old  coaches,  packed  inside 
and  on  top  with  cavalrymen,  each  with  his  carbine  in  hand.  Fol 
lowing  this  escort  were  two  open  barouches,  the  first  containing 
Jefferson  Davis  and  Mrs.  Davis,  Alexander  H.  Stephens  and 
Mrs.  Stephens,  and  Gen.  Wirtz;  the  second  contained  other 
members  of  the  captured  party,  and  officers  in  command  of  the 
guard ;  several  coaches  of  cavalrymen  bringing  up  the  rear. 

As  the  barouche  containing  the  presidential  party  drew  near 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Chew,  Mr.  Davis  rose  in  the  carriage,  and, 
removing  his  hat,  bowed  to  the  party  on  the  veranda,  whose 
sobs  and  evidences  of  grief  must  have  been  plainly  audible  to 


JEERING  AT  JEFF.  343 

all  in  the  carriage.  Looking  to  the  right  and  left,  his  eye  rested 
on  the  wounded  and  maimed  soldiers  of  his  late  army  011  the 
one  hand,  and  his  recently  disbanded  veterans  on  the  other.  It 
was  an  anxious  moment  for  that  little  squad  of  blue-coats  that 
were  nearly  surrounded  by  their  bitterest  foes,  and  outnumbered 
by  more  than  fifty  to  one. 

Would  they  attempt  the  rescue  of  their  commander-in-chief 
and  their  vice-president  ?  It  seemed  an  easy  thing  to  do,  and, 
in  the  bitterness  of  their  disappointment  at  the  sudden  failure 
of  the  "  lost  cause,"  a  very  natural  one  to  attempt. 

The  silence  which  had  thus  far  prevailed  was  broken,  not 
by  cheers  for  their  chieftain,  but  by  cries  from  the  Confederates 
on  both  sides  of  the  street:  "Got  any  of  that  gold  with  you, 
Jeff?" — "We  want  our  pay!"  —  "Give  us  some  of  that 
gold!" — «I  haven't  seen  a  dollar  of  my  pay  for  more  than 
two  years !  "  And  amid  such  cries  of  derision  from  his  own 
troops,  the  carriages  moved  on  to  the  landing ;  and  the  late 
President  and  Vice-President  of  the  Southern  Confederacy  were 
soon  on  board  a  government  transport,  and  under  the  hated  flag 
they  had  tried  so  zealously  for  four  years  to  trail  in  the  dust. 

The  regiment  returned  to  its  quarters  on  Ellis  Street,  and 
thus  terminated  a  day's  experience  that  is  not  likely  to  be  soon 
forgotten. 

On  the  afternoon  of  May  16  the  Fourteenth  left  the  city, 
marching  three  miles  to  the  extensive  arsenal  grounds  where 
it  rejoined  the  brigade.  The  camp  was  formed  in  the  grove 
within  the  arsenal  area.  We  there  enjoyed  an  extensive  pros 
pect  from  elevated  grounds.  The  surrounding  landscape  was 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  to  be  found  in  all  the  South,  and 
every  feature  was  delightful.  The  men  remained  here  in  com 
fort  and  contentment. 

On  the  18th  affairs  took  on  a  new  phase.  The  second  brigade 
arrived,  and  relieved  the  first  of  all  duty.  It  was  rumored  that 
we  were  to  return  to  Savannah.  The  men  at  once  eagerly 
caught  at  the  notion  that  we  were  to  be  ordered  home. 

During  the  first  evening  of  the  Fourteenth's  occupancy  of 


344  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

the  arsenal  grounds,  the  astonished  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent 
country  witnessed  a  pyrotechnic  display  not  provided  for  in  the 
regulations,  although  it  was  entirely  at  Uncle  Sam's  expense. 
It  seems  that  the  Rebels  had  left  a  large  store  of  signal-rockets, 
colored  fires,  etc.,  in  the  arsenal,  which  were  captured  by  the 
Union  troops.  An  inquisitive  Yankee  of  the  Fourteenth  hunted' 
them  out,  and  they  were  judiciously  distributed.  When  even 
ing  arrived  the  camps  were  startled  by  a  series  of  most  erratic 
signals.  Various  interpretations  were  put  upon  them ;  and, 
while  neither  officers  nor  men  could  tell  where  they  came  from, 
what  they  indicated,  or  who  was  responsible  for  the  display,  all 
were  agreed  that  they  were  witnessing  some  especially  fine  fire 
works.  'Tis  true  they  were  manifestly  in  the  hands  of  ama 
teurs  ;  for  the  rockets  were  indifferent  as  to  choice  of  a  horizontal 
or  vertical  range,  and  several  tents  were  perforated  by  those 
heavenly  projectiles,  to  the  great  disquietude  of  the  inmates. 
The  next  night  the  performance  was  repeated ;  and  the  investi 
gation  which  followed  was  in  season  to  ascertain  that  the  mate 
rial  had  all  been  used  up,  and  that  several  hundred  dollars' 
worth  of  valuable  fireworks  had  been  "let  off."  A  Company- 
F  corporal  could  have  given  the  officials  "  some  points  "  on  the 
rocket  business. 

During  the  occupancy  of  the  arsenal  by  the  brigade,  Gen. 
Washburn  held  daily  reviews  and  brigade  dress-parades,  which 
were  more  excellent  exhibitions,  on  a  large  scale,  than  any  we 
had  witnessed  since  entering  the  service. 

For  two  weeks  and  a  half  the  brigade  remained  at  Augusta, 
and  then  the  welcome  orders  came,  and  the  march  back  to  Sa 
vannah  began.  On  the  31st  the  column  made  fifteen  miles, 
camping  at  Goose  Creek.  June  1  it  was  hot,  with  a  sandy  road ; 
and  the  men  were  exhausted  when  fourteen  miles  were  covered, 
and  the  bivouac  was  made  at  Brier  Creek. 

The  march  of  June  2  was  the  hardest  of  the  entire  route, 
the  heat  being  excessive.  The  stragglers  were  so  numerous 
that  only  three  men,  in  some  companies,  were  in  their  places  to 
stack  arms  when  the  halt  was  sounded.  Fifteen  miles.  On 
the  3d,  seventeen  miles  were  covered,  and  half  the  distance  to 
Savannah. 


MAJOR  FLAVEL  L  TOLMAN, 


THE   GREAT  PROBLEM.  345 

Through  this  territory  plums  and  berries  were  to  be  found  in 
abundance,  and  were  much  enjoyed.  During  the  4th,  5th,  and 
6th,  the  march  was  continued,  —  on  the  latter  day  twenty-two 
miles  being  made  before  one  o'clock.  The  camp  was  fixed 
within  nine  miles  of  Savannah. 

One  member  of  some  regiment  in  that  column  will  not  easily 
forget  the  return  march,  nor  the  night  ride  on  a  rail  to  which 
he  was  treated.  His  companion  in  that  excursion  did  not  tarry 
another  day ;  and  he  ascertained,  to  his  entire  satisfaction,  that 
the  boys  had  not  lost,  in  the  army,  their  respect  for  wholesome 
morality. 

THE   NEGRO. 

No  volume  relating  to  the  Great  Rebellion  can  pretend  to 
completeness,  even  in  a  narrow  and  particular  field,  without 
some  allusion  to  the  negro.  A  dark,  portentous  cloud,  he  was 
spread  by  others,  never  by  his  own  machinations  or  volition, 
over  the  entire  land  and  all  its  interests.  Not  the  occasion,  but 
still  the  real,  though  innocent,  cause  of  the  war,  the  negro  was 
a  problem  in  whose  solution  every  regiment  was  vitally  inter 
ested  and  had  a  part.  The  transition  state  of  the  negro,  the 
government's  purposes  and  acts,  the  contraband  doctrine,  vol 
untary  or  enforced  emancipation,  negroes  in  the  trenches,  arm 
ing  the  blacks,  the  Emancipation  Proclamation,  —  these  several 
questions  were  vigorously  discussed  within  the  Fourteenth 
Regiment ;  and  it  must  be  conceded,  that,  in  the  earlier  part  of 
its  service,  the  regiment  was  quite  conservative.  A  majority 
would  not  have  voted  for  a  general  freeing  of  the  slaves ;  and, 
on  a  call  of  the  roll  in  July,  1863,  not  one- third  would  have 
declared  themselves  in  favor  of  arming  the  black  man  in  order 
to  save  the  Union.  But  the  men  grew.  And  in  no  respect 
was  the  prevailing  sentiment  more  satisfactorily  advanced  to 
ward  justice  and  high  conviction  than  touching  the  status  of  the 
slave,  his  rightful  position  among  men,  and  the  duty  of  the  gov 
ernment  toward  him. 

When,  in  the  autumn  of  1863,  two  of  the  ablest  officers  in 
the  regiment  passed  an  examination  surpassing  all  competitors 


346  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

in  the  land,  and  were  commissioned  colonels  of  the  first  regi 
ments  of  U.  S.  colored  troops  which  were  allowed  to  assist  in 
maintaining  the  Union  which  was  to  disenthral  them,  a  better 
opinion  became  not  only  strong,  but  dominant,  in  the  Four 
teenth.  When  Col.  Fellows,  but  recently  a  popular  lieutenant 
in  Company  D,  with  a  good  band  playing  "  John  Brown,"  led 
the  rhythmical  tramp  of  a  thousand  men  with  sable  faces  down 
Pennsylvania  Avenue,  the  brave,  strong  tread,  the  gleaming 
muskets,  so  well  aslant,  borne  at  a  "right-shoulder-shift"  which 
no  white  volunteer  could  excel,  —  prejudice  was  conquered ;  and 
from  the  groups  of  the  Fourteenth  lining  the  sidewalks,  such  a 
cheer  went  up  as  told  the  shrinking  Rebel  sympathizers  crouch 
ing  in  the  rear,  that  whatever  they  might  have  done  with  the 
body  of  the  old  hero  of  Ossawattomie,  "  his  soul  goes  marching 
on ! " 

In  General  Orders,  dated  October  11,  1864,  Gen.  Butler,  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina, 
said,  — 

"In  the  charge  on  the  enemy's  works  by  the  colored  division  of  the 
Eighteenth  Corps,  at  Spring  Hill,  Newmarket,  better  men  were  never 
better  led, — better  officers  never  led  better  men.  With  hardly  an  excep 
tion,  officers  of  colored  troops  have  justified  the  care  with  which  they  have 
been  selected.  A  few  more  such  gallant  charges,  and  to  command  colored 
troops  will  be  the  post  of  honor  in  the  American  armies." 

Political  references  have  no  place  on  these  pages,  and  the 
negro  question  will  not  be  discussed  from  that  standpoint. 
There  is  another  aspect,  much  more  to  our  purpose.  Thou 
sands  of  incidents  have  chased  each  other  through  the  public 
prints,  some  of  them  true ;  others  are  partially  correct,  while 
more  were  manufactured  to  order.  The  compiler  of  this  book 
cannot  compete  with  the  luxuriance  of  the  American  para- 
grapher's  imagination.  Yet  we  are  not  wholly  discouraged  in 
a  search  for  material.  While  every  Union  regiment  was  brought 
into  contact,  in  various  ways,  with  that  singular  race  whose  pe 
culiarity  of  situation  and  relation  embraced  more  opposing  and 
contradictory  elements  than  can  be  attributed  to  any  other  for 
a  thousand  years,  the  Fourteenth  Regiment  enjoyed  a  range 


VARIETIES   OF  NEGRO  LIFE.  347 

of  observation  of,  and  extended  facilities  of  contact  with,  the 
negro,  equalled  by  few  organizations  in  the  army. 

In  his  best  conditions,  and  in  his  sorriest  circumstances ;  as  a 
free  man,  slave,  contraband,  and  soldier ;  as  a  pupil,  and  a  vag 
abond  ;  respectable,  and  contemptible ;  serving,  and  in  author 
ity  ;  in  school,  dance,  and  prayer-meeting ;  as  a  thief,  and  as  a 
respected  preacher  to  his  people  ;  on  steamboat,  parapet,  rail 
road,  and  plantation ;  under  the  eye  of  a  jealous  master,  and 
rollicking  in  unbounded  and  unthinking  liberty,  —  we  saw  and 
studied  the  black  man  of  the  South.  We  went  to  him  in  all 
his  haunts  :  he  came  to  us  in  every  feature  of  a  soldier's  service. 
We  found  him,  first,  in  Maryland,  in  1862 :  a  slave  still,  though 
in  a  milder  form  of  servitude ;  under  a  stolid  face  hiding  a  heart 
bursting  for  the  freedom  so  soon  to  be.  We  observed  him  in 
the  turbulent  transition  periods  in  Virginia ;  where  he  looked 
both  ways  for  freedom,  and  found  it  in  neither.  We  saw  slaves 
really  contented  in  their  cabins  on  Massa's  plantation.  The 
almost  pastoral  life  and  little  zeal  for  slavery  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley  presented  a  new  phase  of  the  negro's  life  ;  and  he  could 
not  be  made  to  appear  as  very  much  of  a  slave  throughout  that 
region.  The  situation  of  the  blacks  in  Maryland,  during  the 
first  years  of  the  Rebellion,  was  anomalous  and  perplexing ;  and 
the  presence  of  Union  troops  aggravated  the  difficulty  of  the 
situation.  There  was  a  general,  widespread  uneasiness;  and 
the  puzzled  slave  not  only  dared  not  express  his  sentiments, 
but  was  fearful  of  having  any  sentiments.  There  was  the  hope 
and  expectation  of  freedom  consequent  upon  the  war;  but 
slavery  was  still  the  legal  condition,  and  the  temptation  to  fol 
low  the  army  was  checked,  not  only  by  the  commanding  offi 
cers,  but  by  the  fear  of  the  master's  retribution. 

No  one  who  observed  the  wonderful  circumspectness  of 
conduct  exhibited  by  the  negro  in  the  trying  transitions  of  that 
period,  can  deny  to  him  qualities  far  above  those  inhering  in 
abject  ignorance  and  inferiority.  The  troops  performing  the 
arduous  observation  and  picket  duty  on  the  Potomac,  above 
Washington,  experienced  many  kindnesses  from  the  slaves  in 
that  region.  In  Louisiana  a  different  and  a  lower  class  of  the 


348  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

African  race  was  encountered.  The  negro  there  was  enjoying 
a  condition  of  more  abandoned  and  pronounced  freedom,  and 
revelled  in  a  general  and  careless  ignorance.  The  bright  ones 
were  brighter,  but  the  mass  was  of  a  lower  grade,  than  in  Mary 
land  and  Virginia.  In  Louisiana  we  beheld  the  thorough  vicious- 
ness  of  African  servitude,  and  the  disastrous  consequences  of 
the  evil  were  apparent  at  every  turn.  Ignorance  and  vice  were 
aggressive  everywhere ;  while  the  exceptions  were  conspicuous, 
and  demonstrated  the  better  possibilities  of  the  race. 

It  was  in  Georgia  that  we  saw  the  negro  at  his  best  under 
the  "peculiar  institution  ;"  and  the  members  of  the  Fourteenth 
were  afforded  the  rare  privilege,  to  a  Northerner,  —  now  gone 
forever,  —  of  securing  varied  and  satisfactory  glimpses  of  negro 
life  at  the  South  in  all  its  romantic  incidents  and  circumstances 
as  they  existed  under  the  old  regime.  In  Savannah,  the  ex- 
slaves,  fresh  from  the  cotton-fields,  exultant  in  the  first  burst  of 
freedom,  crowded  into  the  camps  and  rendezvous.  Extravagant 
in  their  anticipations,  they  fully  expected  that  the  government 
would  provide  for  every  want.  Several  members  of  the  Four 
teenth  assisted  in  initiating  a  systematic  education  for  these 
freedmen.  The  writer  instructed  a  large  class,  varying  in  age 
from  thirteen  to  sixty,  and  including  three  preachers  who  came 
to  learn  the  first  principles  of  reading.  Their  assiduity,  aptness, 
and  progress  were  almost  unprecedented;  and  their  gratitude  for 
help  extended  was  expressed  with  touching  sincerity.  Most  of 
the  blacks  abhorred  the  Rebellion,  despised  their  late  masters, 
and  expressed  a  lofty  contempt  for  the  stay-at-home  and  well- 
scared  slave-owning  planters.  A  widely  spread  sentiment 
among  the  Southern  darkies  is  graphically  portrayed  in  the 
following  stanza :  — 

"  De  massa  look  way  down  de  riber 
Where  de  Liiikum  gun-boats  lay, 
An'  he  pick  up  his  hat,  an'  he  lebe  bery  sudd'n, 
An'  I  spec  he's  runned  away. 

De  massa  run,  ha  !  ha ! 

De  darky  stay,  ho  !  ho  ! 

It  mus'  be  now  dat  de  kingdom's  comin', 

An'  de  year  of  Jubilo  !  " 


A   BLACK  DANCE  IN   THE  PINES.  349 

When  Gen.  Washburn's  brigade  marched  from  Savannah  to 
Augusta,  we  traversed  a  region  whose  inhabitants  had  never 
looked  upon  a  Yankee  soldier.  The  entire  section  had  escaped 
the  ravages  of  war,  save  as  the  lower  portion  was  intersected 
by  Sherman's  line  of  march.  But  no  army,  Union  or  Rebel, 
had  marched  over,  or  encamped  on,  the  territor}^  in  the  vicinity 
of  Augusta.  The  bitter  execration  of  the  whites,  and  the 
undiluted  wonder  of  the  blacks,  were  stirred  beyond  descrip 
tion  by  the  advent  of  a  Union  army.  The  final  collapse  of  the 
Rebellion  had  not  penetrated  this  isolated  region  in  the  amaz 
ing  revulsions  of  its  overwhelming  disaster  and  general  demor 
alization;  yet  the  whispered  prophecies  had  preceded  us,  and 
hundreds  of  slaves  rushed  upon  the  column,  hailing  their  deliv 
erers.  In  every  possible  manner  these  slaves,  intoxicated  to 
bewilderment  by  liberty  realized,  but  not  understood,  strove  to 
attach  themselves  to  the  army.  They  turned  their  backs  un 
hesitatingly  upon  home,  friends,  and  every  association  of  a  life 
time,  and  purposed  to  follow  "Father  Linkum's  sojers,"  they 
cared  not  where. 

The  culmination  of  romance  was  attained  one  night  in  the 
sylvan  camp,  as  the  army  bivouacked  under  the  magnificent 
pines  which  stretched  away  in  miles  of  open  yet  imposing  for 
est.  The  surroundings  harmonized  with  pictures  of  ideal  camp- 
life.  No  shelter-tents  were  pitched,  as  the  umbrageous  canopy 
was  ample.  The  weather  was  so  warm  that  the  men  threw  off 
their  blouses,  and  lounged  at  twilight  on  nature's  rich  forest 
carpet ;  the  whole  situation  being  delightfully  picturesque  and 
novel  to  the  Northerner,  even  though  a  veteran  of  the  war. 
When  the  moon  appeared,  the  beauty  of  the  romantic  picture 
was  enhanced,  and  every  fairyland  effect  intensified.  As  the 
evening  advanced,  the  rollicking,  untamable  darkies,  who 
thronged  along  as  camp-followers,  —  every  officer  had  from  one 
to  three  servants,  —  became  restless  and  irrepressible.  Their 
spirits  rose  with  the  moon,  and  entirely  out-stripped  it.  Their 
gymnastic  antics  were  startling  and  absurdly  comical.  In 
their  contortions  and  genuflections  they  would  have  shamed 
the  best  of  Barnum's  athletes.  All  sorts  of  animals  were  heard 


350  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

through  the  forest,  as  if  gathering  for  a  midnight  powwow  ;  and 
some  of  the  unearthly  screeches  portended  darker  orgies.  The 
natural  mildness  of  the  scene  was  half  transformed  into  the 
accessories  of  some  weird  and  horrible  rite  of  the  Druids. 
The  conditions  were  favorable,  and  the  contrabands  were  deter 
mined  on  a  breakdown  of  proportions  adequate  to  the  occasion. 
Each  regiment  in  the  brigade  had  its  own  group  of  grotesque 
performers,  who  did  their  level  best,  encouraged  by  the  shouts 
of  approbation ;  but  there  was  one  independent  arena  deserv 
ing  of  especial  mention.  About  eleven  o'clock,  those  slaves 
who  had  swarmed  in  from  all  directions  became  well  warmed 
up  to  work.  There  was  singing,  shouting,  dancing,  wrestling, 
and  a  plentiful  interlarding  of  negro  expletive  dialect.  The 
actors  on  this  occasion  were  confined  to  young  men  and  boys ; 
the  older  ones  retaining  sufficient  dignity  to  refrain  from  all 
extreme  demonstrations,  and  to  appropriately  "cuss"  the  small- 
fry  of  "foolish  niggahs"  who  would  "cut  up."  Somewhat 
apart  from  the  main  army,  in  a  quiet  dell,  secluded  by  a  close 
copse  fringing  a  spring  of  water ;  there,  shut  in  by  such  a  dens 
ity  of  foliage  that  the  moonlight  was  useless,  and  the  darkness 
was  intense  enough  for  the  great  pine  flambeaux  to  throw  a 
lurid  coloring  over  that  strange  grouping  of  two  races,  —  there 
was  witnessed  the  highest  effect  of  this  luxuriant  tropical  slave- 
life  in  its  outburst  of  jubilation  over  a  long-waited-for,  earnestly 
supplicated  liberty.  A  dozen  of  the  brightest  negro  boys  we 
had  encountered  since  leaving  Yankee-land  were  grouped  in 
the  foreground,  and  an  ever-enlarging  amphitheatre  of  blue- 
coats  furnished  all  needed  stimulus  to  the  thoroughly  aroused 
performers.  The  older  ones  "beat  it  off,"  and  the  younger 
ones  danced.  The  beating-off  consisted  of  a  jerky,  rhythmic 
chant,  with  the  curious  accompaniment  of  a  smart  clapping  of 
hands  and  slapping  of  thighs  in  exact  time.  As  the  dance 
progressed,  the  vocal  accompaniment  was  raised  in  pitch  and 
volume,  the  time  being  gradually  accelerated.  It  is  moderate 
to  aver  that  the  audience  there  assembled  had  never  before 
witnessed  a  similar  display.  The  extravaganzas  of  Southern 
slave-life  were  acted  out  in  all  their  fantasies.  The  serious  and 


A    SAMBO  BREAKDOWN.  351 

comic  were  so  strangely  blended  that  the  verity  of  the  scene 
might  have  been  questioned,  except  that  a  live,  prancing  darky 
is  so  palpably  material  that  gross  weight  and  dimensions  could 
not  be  mistaken.  Those  fellows  seemed  to  dance  on  their  heads 
and  on  their  bellies  with  as  much  agility  as  upon  their  feet,  sway 
ing  to  each  side,  plunging  forward,  darting  across  the  area; 
then  modulating  voice  and  motion  to  regular  cadences  and 
staid  movements,  anon  sprawling  prone :  a  somersault,  and  the 
dancers  lay  supine,  but  only  for  an  instant.  And  thus  the 
singular  acting  went  on,  the  storm  rising  until  a  perfect  fury  of 
excitement  and  motion  whirled  them  about  as  a  tempest.  The 
climax  must  come  ;  and  when  it  was  reached,  the  performers 
whirled  exhausted  to  the  ground,  the  torches  scattered,  the 
crowd  dispersed  ;  and  at  midnight,  with  leaves  beneath  and  a  bit 
of  shelter-tent  spread  over  them,  the  men  turned  in,  to  dream 
of  black  hobgoblins  dancing  a  Sambo  breakdown  on  the  rim  of 
a  full  moon. 

There  was  one  characteristic  of  the  negro  encountered  on  this 
march  in  which  he  differed  essentially  from  those  in  Maryland, 
Virginia,  and  Louisiana.  Wherever  troops  had  become  familiar 
to  the  slave,  there  he  had  learned,  if  not  to  distrust  a  soldier, 
still  to  use  all  his  wits  in  dealing  with  him.  It  must  be  con 
ceded  that  the  Yankee  volunteer  was  apt  to  selfishly  impose 
upon  the  negro ;  and  the  latter  had  pretty  much  come  to  accept 
the  doctrine  enunciated  by  one  of  his  race,  who,  after  run 
ning  a  plantation  a  year,  in  partnership  with  its  owner,  found 
the  books  were  so  kept  that  he  was  in  debt  to  the  white 
sharper,  — 

"  A  nought  is  a  nought,  a  figger  is  a  figger: 
All  for  the  white  man,  none  for  the  nigger." 

But  the  negroes  of  Northern  Georgia  placed  the  most  implicit 
confidence  in  the  "Yankee  sojers,"  and  fortunately  we  did  not 
remain  in  the  locality  long  enough  to  destroy  the  illusion. 
With  an  absolute  trust  born  of  a  faith  that  could  not  question, 
they  threw  themselves  into  the  arms  of  "  Massa  Linkum's 
army."  Our  inarch  into  the  city  of  Augusta  was  rendered 


352  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

touchingly  impressive  by  an  incident  worthily  remarkable  and 
singular  as  an  illustration  of  the  prevalent  feeling  among  those 
who  were  just  passing  out  of  the  dark  realm  of  bondage  into  a 
light  so  dazzling  that  they  still  "saw  men  as  trees  walking," 
and  were  yet  unacquainted  with  the  perspectives  of  freedom. 
As  the  column  of  the  invading  brigade  swung  past  the  fine 
suburban  estates  a  little  outside  the  city,  an  old  negro,  a  venera 
ble  patriarch,  with  four  generations  about  him,  drew  near,  and 
was  at  first  unable  to  speak.  His  long  woolly  hair  and  beard 
were  white  with  age :  he  was  tall,  massive,  and  fine-looking. 
At  length  he  raised  his  arm  ;  and,  stretching  it  out  as  if  in  bene 
diction,  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  chillun,  I  never  'spected  to  live  to 
see  dis  day!  I  bress  de  good  Lord  fur  dis  day.  It  am  de  hope 
of  de  black  man.  De  kingdum  has  cum,  suah  'nuf !  Ye's  cum 
straight  from  de  Lord ;  ye's  brought  de  deliberance ;  I  bress  ye 
all !  "  We  had  been  laughing  at  negro  idiosyncrasies  through 
out  the  march ;  there  were  men  in  the  ranks  who  would  make 
light  of  the  most  serious  matters :  but  when  this  doxology 
burst  forth,  eloquent  in  its  every  inflection,  from  the  lips  of  a 
man  who  had  been  a  slave  ever  since  Washington  was  Presi 
dent  of  the  nation,  not  a  man  but  was  mute,  serious,  and  sub 
dued.  We  had  there  seen  our  Uncle  Tom,  while  in  the  forest 
diversion  previously  Sam  and  Andy  had  indulged  in  gambols 
fully  as  eccentric  as  the  placing  of  prickly  burrs  under  Massa 
Haley's  saddle.  Nor  did  we  miss  a  genuine  Aunt  Chloe. 

While  on  a  private  skirmish  after  mulberries  outside  of 
Augusta,  two  members  of  the  Fourteenth  wandered  out  to  a 
large  plantation ;  and  as  the  planter  happened  to  be  absent,  we 
sauntered  down  to  the  "  quarters."  There  was  the  "  old  cabin 
home,"  a  genuine  Uncle  Tom's  cabin,  and  Aunt  Chloe  was  in. 
She  did  not  know  exactly  how  to  receive  us,  and  answered  posi 
tively  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  cabin  to  eat.  But,  after 
considerable  parley,  three  facts  were  made  clear.  We  informed 
her  that  Massa  was  away ;  that  we  were  Yankee  soldiers ;  that 
our  bag  of  coffee  was  before  her,  and  there  was  but  one  way  for 
her  to  get  some.  She  suddenly  recollected  that  "  suah  'nuf, 
dar  is  one  hoe-cake  lef ; "  and  she  forthwith  proceeded  in  a 


THE   CABIN  AND   THE  HOE-CAKE.  353 

lively  fashion  to  rake  the  ashes  from  off  as  luscious  a  hoe-cake 
as  ever  lay  on  a  cabin  hearth.  The  entire  colored  population 
of  Augusta  seemed  eager  to  render  every  possible  service  to  the 
"  Linkum  angels,"  and  no  remuneration  was  expected.  They 
were  ready  to  steal  provisions  from  their  masters  for  the  benefit 
of  the  Yankees,  and  thousands  of  dollars  in  Confederate  money 
were  brought  in  by  them  for  distribution  among  the  men. 

The  religious  side  of  the  negro's  life  has  found  a  large  place 
in  literature,  and  has  been  caricatured  without  limit  and  be 
yond   reason.     Not    all   of  the    slaves   were   extravagant   and 
absurd  in  their  ideas  and  practices  in  worship.     One   of  the 
largest  congregations  in  America  is  a  colored  church  in  Rich 
mond,  Va.,  and  it  is  also  one  of  the  most  dignified  in  the  con 
duct  of  worship.     But  there  have  been  ample  grounds  for  the 
comic  portrayals  of  negro  services.    Members  of  the  Fourteenth 
were  the  unsuspected  observers  of  a  meeting  which  went  about 
as  far  in  exemplification    of  the    startling   and   ridiculous   as 
appears  to  be  possible.     It  would  have  been  utterly  impossible 
for  one  ignorant  of  the  religious  peculiarities  of  the  race  to 
suspect  that  the  antics  indulged  in  were  really  inspired  by  a 
devotional  frame  ;  yet  if  there  was  a  single  impressive  charac 
teristic  of  the  service,  it  was  that  of  its  perfect  sincerity,  —  its 
all-absorbing  earnestness.     The  edifice  in  which  the  gathering 
was   held   was   a   government   barracks,   with   tiers   of  bunks 
against   the    walls.      The    principal   portion   of    the   audience 
perched  or  roosted  on  those  bunks ;  the   upper-tier  occupants 
hanging  over  so  far  that  there  was    a   perpetually  imminent 
danger  of  a  fall,  if  not  from  grace,  still  from  a  considerable 
elevation.     The  service  cannot  be   classed    under   any  known 
ecclesiastical  designation.    It  was  a  combination  of  love-feast, 
breakdown,  praise-meeting,   walk-around,  class-meeting,  and  a 
mighty  serious  religious  jollification.     It  is  a  matter  of  regret 
that  the  spectators  were  too  late  to  observe  the  opening  of  the 
exercises;  for  twenty  years  have  not  allayed  the  wonder  how,  and 
by  what  beginnings,  the  stage  of  performance  first  perceived  was 
ever  reached.     The  culminating  rapture  of  the  evening  was  far 
ahead;  the  congregation  had  not  even  reached  the  degree  of 


354  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

convulsive  paroxysms,  being  only  worked  up,  during  the  first 
hour,  to  a  state  of  deliberate  frenzy.  The  first  look  yielded  the 
undoubted  assurance  of  infinite  possibilities  in  that  meeting. 
Passionate  oratory,  sweet,  plaintive,  enlivening  melodies,  rap 
turous  prayers,  and  unctuous,  stunning  interjections,  competed 
for  the  crowning  approbation.  If  there  was  any  recognized 
leader,  it  was  impossible  to  single  him  out.  Nearly  all  of  the 
livelier  participants  took  a  hand  at  directing  affairs,  and  in  one 
portion  of  the  service  every  active  member  led  in  his  turn. 

The  meeting  was  run  by  relays  or  reliefs.  When  the  upper- 
bunk  reserve  worshippers  felt  that  the  devotional  fire  was  not 
glowing  with  sufficient  intensity,  they  leaped  into  the  arena, 
and  assumed  direction  of  affairs,  affording  the  displaced  ones  a 
breathing-spell.  Every  approach  to  exhaustion  was  a  signal 
for  prayer ;  and  the  entire  ring  fell  upon  its  knees,  half  a  dozen 
supplicating  audibly  at  once,  while  the  upper  perchers  contented 
themselves  with  shouting  till  they  were  hoarse.  A  small  stock 
of  expressions  sufficed  for  the  exhorters,  as  the  continual  ejacu- 
latory  interpolations  from  all  hands  constituted  two-thirds  of  the 
address.  The  music  formed  the  marvellous  feature  of  the  pro 
gramme.  When  a  season  of  prayer  had  been  concluded,  the 
occupants  of  the  floor  sprang  to  their  feet,  and  formed  a  ring, 
when  one  of  them  led  off :  — 

"  I'm  goin'  to  heaben  when  I  die, 
When  I  die,  when  I  die; 
I'm  goin'  to  heaben  when  I  die, 
Hi-o,  Lord  !  hi-o  !  " 

The  next  man  then  sang  a  solo  consisting  of  the  line  ren 
dered  by  his  predecessor,  adding  one  of  his  own  :  thus,  — 

"  I'm  goin'  to  heaben  when  I  die, 
The  Lord  he's  a-callin'  you  and  I. 
Hi-o,  Lord!  hi-o!" 

The  chorus  came  in  with  the  addition  of  each  line,  the  whole 
audience  singing  all  that  had  gone  before.  There  was  nothing 
mirth-provoking  in  this  part  of  the  service,  but  an  indescribable 
fascination  in  the  fantastic  song,  accompanied  with  stamping  of 


VALUABLE  EXPERIENCE.  355 

the  feet,  and  rhythmic  undulations  of  the  body.  The  mind  and 
heart  of  even  intelligent  observers  were  led  in  channels  of  gen 
uine  devotion.  Hour  after  hour,  sometimes  until  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  exercises  wore  on,  until  the  most  intense 
zealots  were  worn  out ;  and  the  strange  drama  was  suspended, 
only  to  be  re-enacted,  perhaps,  on  the  following  night. 

The  insight  obtained  by  the  Fourteenth  into  actual  slave-life 
at  the  South  included  the  most  interesting  and  important  phases 
of  that  powerful  system,  at  whose  doors  history  must  lay  the 
crime  of  the  Rebellion ;  and  our  experiences  in  this  department 
were  valuable  beyond  estimate,  being  more  comprehensive  than 
those  of  most  regiments ;  and  the  recollections  here  suggested 
of  master  and  slave,  and  their  relations  to  Southern  society  as 
it  was  observed  in  ante-bellum  days,  are  especially  to  be  cher 
ished  when  it  is  considered  that  the  original  of  the  picture,  the 
entire  condition  of  things  herein  depicted,  is  obliterated  forever. 
Wherever  the  negro  was  seen,  he  was  a  study,  not  so  much  for 
his  intrinsic  peculiarities,  interesting  as  they  were,  as  for  the 
illustrations  they  furnished  of  a  system,  an  organized  life,  whol 
ly  foreign  to  the  New-England  economy.  The  Union  soldiers  of 
the  Fourteenth  saw  the  negro  at  his  best  and  at  his  worst,  —  as 
a  slave  and  as  a  freedman,  as  a  chattel  and  as  a  man. 


356  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


VI. 
HOME    AGAIN. 

THE  war  of  the  Rebellion  inculcated  one  lesson  which  a  large 
proportion  of  the  American  people  had  never  sufficiently  pon 
dered.  This  lesson  is  the  worth  of  home-life,  and  the  comforts 
and  advantages  connected  with  the  ordinary  avocations  of 
peace.  The  great  army  of  the  Union  learned  this  lesson  thor 
oughly  amid  the  deprivations,  the  burdens,  and  the  separations 
incident  to  a  prolonged  and  desperate  conflict.  War  was  an 
inexorable  schoolmaster,  and  the  lesson  was  well  conned.  Deep 
beyond  expression  was  the  yearning  for  home,  and  a  relief  from 
the  irksome  exactions  of  military  service,  as  soon  as  the  dawn 
of  peace  permitted  the  veteran  volunteer  to  turn  the  whole 
strength  of  mind  and  heart  away  from  war  and  toward  the 
home,  friends,  and  calling  he  had  left  nearly  three  years  before. 
It  was  understood  that  those  regiments  which  had  longest  to 
serve  would  be  retained  until  a  complete  peace  status  should 
be  reached  throughout  the  South,  and  the  Fourteenth  expected 
to  remain  in  service  during  the  summer.  When  Richmond  fell, 
and  the  glorious  culmination  of  Appomattox  and  Johnston's  sub 
sequent  surrender  was  announced,  there  was  an  eager  desire  to 
be  ordered  home.  Yet  in  the  Fourteenth  there  was  no  clamor, 
and  the  men  were  not  even  restless.  This  is  doubtless  to  be 
accounted  for  by  the  active  duties  devolved  upon  the  regiment, 
and  the  obviously  important  post  it  occupied  in  the  very  centre 
of  the  late  Confederacy.  The  events  of  the  time  were  so  start 
ling,  the  transitions  so  sudden,  and  the  entire  situation  so 
peculiar,  that  the  soldier's  life  in  Georgia  could  not  settle  into 
a  discontented  monotony,  even  when  the  clash  of  arms  had 


THE  END   OF  SERVICE.  357 

finally  ceased.  The  Fourteenth  was  favored  beyond  anticipa 
tion,  the  welcome  order  for  muster-out  being  issued  much 
sooner  than  it  was  expected. 

When  the  column  resumed  its  march  on  the  7th,  at  half-past 
four  in  the  morning,  it  was  within  nine  miles  of  Savannah.  We 
moved  over  the  rough  "corduroys"  constructed  by  Sherman's 
army,  and  passed  through  the  formidable  defences  relied  upon 
to  keep  the  Yankees  out. 

As  the  brigade  neared  the  city,  it  was  met  by  a  staff-officer 
with  orders  for  the  Fourteenth,  relieving  it  from  brigade  con 
nection  in  order  to  be  mustered  out  of  service.  Never  were 
there  lighter  hearts ;  never  a  battalion  took  merrier  step.  The 
end  of  the  cruel  war,  of  the  long  separations,  was  indeed  nigh 
at  hand.  Who  but  the  veteran  knows  how  much  that  order 
meant  ? 

The  remainder  of  the  brigade  went  into  camp  outside  the 
city,  while  the  Fourteenth  camped  near  the  cotton-yard  it  had 
occupied  when  first  reaching  Savannah.  The  information  was 
given  that  the  regiment  would  be  discharged  as  soon  as  the 
muster-out  rolls  could  be  completed.  The  men  learned  that 
home  was  a  great  deal  farther  away  than  they,  in  their  eager 
expectation,  supposed.  On  the  9th  the  regiment  moved  into 
quarters  recently  occupied  by  a  New- York  regiment. 

On  the  12th  the  company  officers  began  making  out  the  final 
rolls. 

On  the  18th  of  June  the  regiment  held  its  last  dress-parade. 
Could  that  fact  have  been  realized  at  the  time,  it  would  doubt 
less  have  made  a  deep  impression  upon  every  thoughtful  mem 
ber  of  the  regiment.  The  last  dress-parade  of  the  Fourteenth ! 
As  these  words  are  written,  after  so  many  years  of  vicissitude 
and  change,  the  grandeur  and  might  of  our  battalion,  as  dis 
played  on  many  a  field,  rises  beforfc  us  in  all  their  romance  and 
impressiveness.  Verily,  that  life  in  the  Fourteenth  Regiment 
was  well  worth  the  living. 

The  weather  was  intensely  hot,  and  disease  was  threatening  a 
fearful  havoc  in  the  regiment.  On  the  23d  the  muster-out  rolls 
were  complete ;  or,  rather,  it  was  supposed  that  they  were. 


358  FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

On  those  rolls  the  recruits  were  not  entered.  A  heavy  rain  set 
in ;  which,  continuing  several  days,  increased  the  general  un- 
healthiness. 

On  the  28th  those  who  were  not  to  go  home  with  the  regi 
ment  turned  in  their  arms  and  equipments,  —  a  token  of  the 
coming  dissolution.  Orderly-Sergt.  Parker,  of  Company  C, 
died  the  30th,  after  an  illness  of  but  eighteen  hours.  There 
were  other  similar  cases. 

July  3  the  eighteen  regiments  stationed  at  Savannah  were 
reviewed  by  Gen.  Birge.  It  was  the  last  review  of  the  Four 
teenth,  and  the  last  marshalling  under  our  able  brigade  com 
mander  of  the  Valley  campaign. 

Before  the  Fourteenth  ceased  from  duty  in  Savannah,  large 
numbers  of  Rebel  officers  came  in  and  gave  themselves  up. 
They  were  paroled,  and  allowed  to  wear  their  uniforms,  —  most 
of  them  had  no  other  clothes,  —  but  every  military  insignia  must 
be  removed :  particularly  the  brass  buttons  were  all  cut  from 
their  coats.  To  this  proceeding  some  of  them  wrathfully  de 
murred,  but  the  officers  were  inexorable.  At  one  time  Capt. 
Berry  had  a  dozen  of  these  displumed  knights  before  him  ;  and, 
when  he  proceeded  to  dispossess  them  of  those  buttons  with  the 
lamented  "  C.  S.  A."  upon  them,  they  refused  to  be  shorn. 
When  notified  that  it  was  a  matter  of  minus  buttons  or  minus 
freedom,  they  agreed  to  cut  them  off  if  left  to  themselves. 
They  were  gratified,  and  went  off  wearing  buttonless  coats. 

July  6  the  baggage  of  the  Fourteenth  was  sent  to  the  dock, 
and  orders  were  issued  to  have  the  line  formed  at  half-past  four 
the  next  morning.  For  nearly  six  months  the  regiment  had 
been  stationed  in  Georgia,  and  the  men  had  become  as  much 
attached  to  Savannah  as  to  any  place  we  had  occupied  in  the 
South.  A  large  number  of  the  boys  declared  their  firm  inten 
tion  of  returning  there  as  soon  as  they  had  made  a  coveted 
visit  in  the  North,  —  a  determination  which  hardly  a  man  of 
them  adhered  to  when  the  old  home  was  reached.  But  where 
are  the  expectant  females  who  waited  for  the  fulfilment  of 
ardent  vows  made  by  Yankee  lovers? 

The  boys  took  their  last  survey  of  Savannah,  arid  a  lively 


A    COLD   GREETING.  359 

evening  they  made  of  it.     Pleasant  acquaintances  had  been 
made,  and  parting  calls  were  numerous. 

Reveille  was  sounded  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
7th ;  battalion-line  was  formed  at  three  ;  and  the  regiment  was 
on  the  wharf  at  four.  Went  aboard  the  steamship  "  Constitu 
tion  ; "  and  six  o'clock  the  lines  were  cast  off,  and  the  Four 
teenth,  winding  down  the  tortuous  channel,  was  homeward 
bound. 

For  more  than  half  a  mile  down  the  river-bank  Capt.  Starr, 
post  quartermaster  and  master  of  transportation,  accompanied 
the  steamer  on  his  fine  pony.  Capt.  Starr  was  very  popular 
with  the  Fourteenth.  An  incident  connected  with  his  meeting 
Jeff  Davis  must  find  a  place  in  this  chronicle.  When  the  ex- 
President  of  the  ex-Confederacy  arrived,  a  prisoner,  in  Savannah, 
it  was  the  duty  of  Capt.  Starr  to  provide  transportation  to  Hil 
ton  Head.  As  he  stepped  on  board  the  small  river  stern-wheeler 
which  brought  the  notorious  prisoner  from  Augusta,  Davis  was 
gazing  over  the  rail.  The  officer  in  charge  of  the  captive  said, 
"  Mr.  Davis,  allow  me  to  present  to  you  Capt.  Starr,  the  quar 
termaster  of  this  city."  Mr.  Davis  held  out  his  hand ;  but  the 
captain  put  his  own  behind  him,  and,  looking  the  Rebellion 
leader  square  in  the  face,  replied,  "  No,  sir!  Mr.  Davis."  Af 
terward  the  captain  said,  in  explanation,  "I  wonder  if  Jeff 
thought  I  would  take  his  hand  ?  I  have  seen  too  much  of  this 
cruel  war  for  that." 

Hilton  Head  was  reached  at  eleven  o'clock ;  and  it  was  then 
ascertained  that  the  rolls  must  be  altered,  in  order  to  include 
the  recruits  in  the  muster-out.  A  further  delay  was  occasioned 
by  the  fact  that  some  of  the  company  rolls  were  not  properly 
made  out.  This  was  a  trial  of  the  men's  patience,  which  did 
'not  endanger  the  supremacy  of  Job.  The  regiment  remained 
aboard  the  ship,  which  was  tied  up  to  the  great  government  pier. 

On  the  8th  three  companies  were  mustered  out ;  and  the 
muster  of  the  entire  regiment  was  dated  from  that  day,  although 
the  mustering-officer's  work  was  not  completed  until  the  llth. 
At  four  o'clock  that  day  the  Fourteenth  sailed  on  its  last 
voyage,  "  The  Constitution  "  having  the  bark  "  Annie  Kimball " 


360  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

in  tow.  On  the  13th  Cape  Hatteras  was  passed,  the  boys  re 
calling  the  fearful  experiences  of  a  previous  voyage.  The  heavy 
fogs  and  frequent  showers  contributed  to  the  discomforts  of  the 
men,  and  the  long  trip  was  not  hugely  enjoyed.  One  overmas 
tering  sentiment  possessed  the  members  of  the  regiment,  and 
that  was  the  desire  to  get  home. 

At  half-past  ten,  on  the  night  of  the  17th,  the  vessel  rounded 
Cape  Cod ;  and  the  next  morning  a  most  delightful  sail  was  en 
joyed  up  Boston  Harbor.  At  nine-thirty  A.M.  "  The  Constitu 
tion  "  touched  the  wharf,  and  the  Fourteenth  landed  in  the 
Hub.  At  twelve  o'clock  a  collation  was  served  in  Faneuil 
Hall ;  and  at  four  P.M.,  after  the  men  had  enjoyed  a  good  deal 
of  tramping  about  the  city,  the  regiment  marched  to  the  Lowell 
Depot,  amid  the  cheers  of  a  large  concourse  of  spectators,  — 
the  battalion  showed  its  excellent  discipline  to  advantage,  — 
and  took  a  special  train  for  Concord. 

After  nearly  completing  the  three  years  for  which  the  men 
enlisted,  the  Fourteenth  re-entered  the  capital  of  New  Hamp 
shire,  at  half-past  eleven  P.M.,  July  18.  The  men  were  served 
with  supper  at  the  different  hotels,  and  then  were  marched  to 
Camp  Gilmore,  south  of  the  city,  where  A-tents  were  provided. 

As  a  regiment  the  Fourteenth  was  home  again.  But  not  all. 
We  do  not  forget  the  graves  on  Southern  battle-fields,  nor  the 
decimated  ranks  where  grim  disease  had  done  its  dread  work. 
Four  hundred  and  forty-two  original  members,  or  forty-five  per 
cent,  returned  home  at  muster-out.  Including  recruits,  five 
hundred  and  seventy  men,  or  forty-two  per  cent  of  the  total 
membership,  —  about  thirteen  hundred  and  fifty,  —  was  the 
strength  of  the  regiment  when  it  returned  to  the  State.  Com 
pany  A  brought  home  the  most  men,  —  fifty-four  original  mem 
bers,  sixty  in  all ;  while  Company  I  brought  the  smallest  num 
ber,  —  thirty-four  original  members,  a  total  of  forty-four. 

Two  or  three  items  of  general  interest  may  properly  find  a 
place  here.  The  last  fight  between  Union  and  Rebel  troops  was 
on  the  13th  of  May.  The  grand  review  at  Washington  was  on 
May  22-23.  When  the  war  closed,  63,442  Rebel  prisoners  were 
released;  and  the  final  surrender  of  Lee  included  174,223  men. 


BREAKING  RANKS.  361 

March  1, 1865,  the  Union  armies  mustered,  on  the  rolls,  965,941. 
The  great  bulk  of  the  Rebel  armies  never  surrendered  at  all, 
but  quietly  returned  to  their  homes.  Of  the  Union  forces, 
91,000  were  killed  in  battle,  or  died  of  wounds,  while  the  total 
Union  loss  was  over  300,000. 

An  appropriate  reception  was  planned  in  Concord  for  the 
Fourteenth  ;  but  as  the  men,  on  the  19th,  received  a  leave  of 
absence,  —  a  week's  delay  was  found  to  be  necessary  before  dis 
charges  could  be  granted, — the  plan  was  never  fully  carried 
out. 

On  the  26th  the  men  returned  to  Concord,  and  signed  the  pay 
rolls. 

On  the  27th  of  July  the  men  were  paid  off,  and  discharged 
from  the  service. 

The  Fourteenth  Regiment,  as  an  active  military  organization, 
passed  out  of  existence  in  a  most  commonplace  manner.  It 
would  be  agreeable  to  look  back  upon  some  closing  formalities 
befitting  the  occasion,  and  consonant  with  the  high  dignity  of 
the  regiment's  service,  and  the  honorable  name  it  had  won.  A 
final  dress-parade  would  have  measurably  satisfied  a  sentiment 
which  is  doubtless  more  general  and  intense  to-day  than  when 
the  boys  had  just  put  army-life  behind  them,  and  emphatically 
declared  that  "military  is  played  out."  With  blare  of  trumpet 
and  roll  of  drum  the  Fourteenth  mustered  in  1862.  Without 
demonstration  or  ceremony  the  same  organization  melted  away 
in  1865,  and  its  members 

"  Folded  their  tents  like  the  Arabs, 
And  as  silently  stole  away." 

The  Fourteenth  passed  into  the  history  which  it  helped  to 
make  and  glorify,  and  its  component  parts  became  simply  citi 
zens  of  that  Republic  which  they  had  done  their  full  part  to 
make  secure  and  free. 


362  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

AFTER  TWENTY  YEARS. 

In  the  interest  of  this  volume  a  member  of  the  Fourteenth 
recently  made  a  tour  of  the  scenes  of  its  service  and  campaign 
in  Virginia.  A  present  view,  even  by  proxy,  of  the  localities 
which  entered  so  largely  into  the  most  important  life-era  of  our 
veterans,  must  furnish  an  entertaining  portion  of  this  memorial. 
Certain  descriptive  passages  which  might  properly  have  appeared 
in  the  history  of  the  Shenandoah  campaign  are  incorporated  in 
this  chapter. 

The  journey  to  Washington  was  strikingly  similar,  in  some 
particulars,  to  the  passage  of  the  Fourteenth  to  the  seat  of  war. 
The  route  by  boat  and  rail  was  much  the  same,  and  Baltimore 
was  reached  at  the  same  hour  in  the  early  morning.  But  the 
arrival  in  Washington  was  different  from  that  in  the  fall  of  1862  ; 
the  train  stopping  at  a  station  on  Sixth  Street,  south  of  Penn 
sylvania  Avenue,  it  being  the  same  in  which  President  Garfield 
was  shot ;  the  route  being  by  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  which 
furnishes  an  elegant  and  quiet  transit  from  New  York  to  Wash 
ington  by  a  route  unknown  in  "war-times."  Washington  is 
wonderfully  transformed,  and  the  veteran  soldier  visiting  the 
national  capital  will  gaze  with  surprise  upon  the  great  advances 
made  since  the  war. 

The  numerous  hospitals,  extensive  corrals  for  horses  and 
mules,  immense  warehouses  for  quartermaster  and  commissary 
stores,  winding  miles  of  wagon  and  ambulance  trains,  the  varied 
and  almost  immeasurable  paraphernalia  and  panoply  of  colossal 
campaigns,  provost-guards,  patrols,  detachments  of  soldiers  of 
every  arm  of  the  service,  general  officers  with  their  staffs  and 
orderlies  galloping  through  the  streets  toward  camps  in  the 
suburbs,  or  on  their  way  to  outlying  forts  or  rendezvous,  —  all 
this,  so  familiar  to  the  members  of  the  Fourteenth  for  nearly  a 
year,  has  entirely  disappeared  ;  and  the  brilliancy  of  a  finished 
metropolis  has  superseded  the  shambling,  dirty,  and  nondescript 
city  of  1862. 

About  the  Capitol  the  transformation  is  most  bewildering, 
delightful  parterres  and  costly  and  artistic  granite  coping  having 


THEN  AND  NOW.  363 

supplanted  the  huge  fences,  sheds,  bowlders,  and  construction 
debris  incident  to  the  great  enlargement  of  the  Capitol  progress 
ing  while  the  Fourteenth  enjoyed  the  title  of  "  Lincoln's  Pets." 
And  in  many  portions  of  the  city  the  post-bellum  embellishments 
have  wrought,  as  by  magic,  to  transform  the  provincial  Southern 
town  of  large  dimensions  into  a  magnificent  city.  Even  the 
Washington  Monument  has  been  roused  from  its  worse  than 
Rip  Van  Winkle  lethargy,  and  is  now  casting  off  its  mantle  of 
shame  by  rising  to  worthier  altitudes. 

But  there  need  be  no  cherishing  of  regrets  over  remorseless 
transitions.  Washington  is  to-day  a  perfectly  familiar  spot  to 
the  veteran  Union  soldier,  not  only  in  its  bold,  salient  features 
of  general  aspect,  but  in  important  and  most  interesting  particu 
lars.  In  some  respects  the  changes  in  the  capital  amount  to  a 
splendid  transformation,  while  other  portions  remain  precisely 
as  when  the  city  and  its  environs  formed  a  monster  military 
camp. 

The  boys  who  were  stationed  at  Benning's  Bridge  would  per 
ceive  no  intrusive  hand  laid  upon  so  much  as  a  negro-cabin ;  in 
fact,  it  seemed  as  though  the  identical  curly-pated  urchins  were 
punching  the  identical  ebony  toes  into  the  identical  mud 
sloughs  which  filled  the  foreground  of  a  common  picture  twenty 
years  ago.  While  the  old  soldier  who  used  to  guard  Rebel 
prisoners  at  the  "  Old-Capitol  Prison  "  would  now  feel  himself 
lost,  standing  before  the  corner  so  much  frequented  by  the 
Fourteenth,  and  would  not  recognize  in  the  palatial  block  of 
residences  the  former  whitewashed  walls  of  the  famous  prison, 
now  topped  out  with  the  common  architectural  outrage,  a  man 
sard  roof;  and  while  the  detachments  which  so  long  stood 
guard  on  Sixth  and  Seventh -street  Wharves  might  now  feel 
lonesome  in  searching  for  their  old  quarters  and  familiar  sutler 
and  huckster  shops,  —  the  famous  heroes  of  the  "  Central  Guard- 
House  "  would  revel  in  the  grates,  bars,  cells,  guard-room,  and 
even  the  hose-bath  parlor,  all  undisturbed,  standing  as  though 
the  squad  and  provost-marshal  had  marched  off  but  yesterday. 
There  was  nothing  incongruous,  save  several  barrels  of  apples 
stored  there  by  adjacent  marketmen.  We  have  seen  a  crowd 


364  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

in  those  cells  and  corridors,  —  both  of  prisoners  and  guards, — 
who  had  a  taste  sensitive  enough  to  remove  such  an  incongruity 
without  delay. 

The  old  guard  at  the  War  Department  would  find  a  splendid 
structure  on  the  corner  of  Seventeenth  Street  and  Pennsylvania 
Avenue,  instead  of  the  well-remembered  warehouse,  dignified 
into  the  chief  department  of  government,  where  Lincoln,  Stan- 
ton,  and  the  renowned  commanders  of  the  armies,  held  decisive 
consultations,  while  members  of  the  Fourteenth  stood  guard 
within  and  without.  The  G-street  Wharf  detachment  could 
never  find  their  barracks,  their  beats,  or  any  familiar  object: 
the  change  is  complete.  But  the  heavy  detachment  so  long 
posted  at  the  south  end  of  Long  Bridge  could  suffer  no  such 
disappointment :  the  building  occupied  as  barracks,  guard 
room,  officers'  quarters,  and,  above,  for  the  improvised  lyceum 
with  its  memorable  debates  ;  the  grounds  outside ;  the  back 
yard,  with  its  big  trees,  in  whose  bark  there  remain  the  initials 
of  several  members  of  the  Fourteenth,  —  every  thing  remains  in 
about  the  same  condition  as  it  was  when  the  post  was  vacated 
by  the  Fourteenth  in  January,  1864.  The  passenger-station  of 
the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  another  post  of  duty  for 
members  of  the  Fourteenth,  is  in  nearly  the  same  condition  as 
during  the  war.  The  most  noticeable  alteration  is  in  the  grade 
of  the  avenue  in  front,  which  has  been  so  raised  as  to  leave  the 
depot  down  in  a  hole. 

Every  point  in  Washington  covered  by  details  of  the  regi 
ment  was  visited  by  the  veteran  on  his  tramp,  but  let  it  not  be 
supposed  that  any  spot  was  visited  before  the  pilgrimage  was 
made  to  Camp  Adirondack.  Striking  New-York  Avenue 
through  familiar  streets,  we  reach  the  well-remembered  gardens 
of  Ernst  Loeffler.  The  old  man  is  still  there,  though  'twas  a 
palsied,  almost  helpless,  hand  we  grasped ;  but  the  greeting 
was  cordial.  Beyond  Loeffler's,  hardly  a  change  in  the  land 
scape  has  occurred  until  the  camp  is  reached.  The  brook, 
embankments,  crooked  paths,  buildings,  are  exactly  as  they 
were,  and  we  were  almost  tempted  to  attempt  a  recognition  of 
the  very  footprints  of  "our  boys."  The  camp  itself,  in 


OLD  LANDMARKS.  365 

"  Gale's  "  or  "  Patterson's  Woods,"  is  scarcely  altered,  save  as 
a  high  board-fence  about  it,  and  the  usual  structures  of  a 
German  beer-garden,  change  somewhat  the  general  aspect.  The 
trees  are  all  there ;  the  shallow  gorge  separating  the  tents  of 
officers  and  men,  the  open  parade-ground  in  front,  and  the  run 
ning  stream  in  the  meadow  below,  —  these  are  satisfactory  in 
their  likeness  to  the  days  of  camping  in  1863.  The  grading  of 
the  location  of  the  tents  of  Company  F's  line-officers  was  easily 
discerned ;  the  company  street  of  H  was  distinctly  traced ;  the 
locations  of  the  company  cook-houses  were  plain  to  the  eye  ; 
while  the  sinks  seem  to  remain  just  as  they  were  left  by  the 
regiment.  The  well-remembered  milk  and  newspaper  vender, 
Heidemiller,  is  dead  ;  but  his  son  has  supplanted  the  old  farm 
house  with  an  elegant  residence. 

From  Washington  we  proceed  to  Harper's  Ferry,  not  by  the 
circuitous  route  through  the  Relay  Station,  but  over  the  new 
line  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  which  furnishes  the 
tourist  with  the  best  of  accommodations.  Passing  within  two 
miles  of  Poolesville,  dashing  round  Point  of  Rocks,  and  while 
deeply  buried  in  a  re  very  which  held  us  in  the  spell  of  war 
romances,  we  suddenly  stop  in  the  wild  scenery  and  architect 
ural  dilapidation  of  Harper's  Ferry. 

Not  a  breath  seems  to  have  stirred  a  leaf  in  that  slowly  dis 
integrating  town  since  the  hero  of  Ossawattomie  sounded  the 
dread  bugle-note  that  crazed  the  phalanxes  of  the  Old  Domin 
ion,  and  raised  a  political  dust  which  only  four  years  of  blood 
drenching  could  lay.  Curiously  enough,  the  first  sight  for  us 
to  contemplate  on  leaving  the  cars  was  a  veteran  of  the  Eighty- 
seventh  Penn.,  dragging  a  hearse  out  from  the  renowned  engine- 
house,  "John  Brown's  fort,"  as  it  is  now  placarded  in  big  sign 
lettering.  Let  the  old  bullet-battered  freedom  castle  remain  a 
hearse-house,  and  a  reminder  of  the  fact,  that,  when  Virginia 
dragged  the  "  old  fanatic "  from  the  debris  of  an  infuriated 
bombardment,  she  drew  a  hearse  which  carried  to  its  entomb 
ment  the  decomposed  body  of  an  arrogant  aristocracy.  Such 
thoughts  possessed  us  as  we  wandered  through  those  streets, 
especially  constructed  for  the  benefit  of  the  native  "  forty-rod 


366  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

whiskey  "  victims ;  for  no  man,  until  worked  into  a  certain  state 
of  inebriety,  pretends  to  walk  like  a  gentleman  there.  We 
climbed  Cemetery  Hill,  peered  within  the  gaunt  walls  of  the 
viscerated  stone  church,  then  mounted  the  eminence  which 
overlooked  the  picturesque  but  blighted  town.  Across  the 
Potomac  we  gazed  upon  Maryland  Heights,  treacherously  aban 
doned  at  a  critical  time  in  the  great  struggle ;  over  the  conflu 
ent  Shenandoah  rose  Loudon  Heights,  veiling  the  field  of 
Moseby's  deadly  surprises ;  with  a  soldier's  "  about-face,"  we 
surveyed  the  roll  and  rise  of  Bolivar,  where  Miles  disgracefully 
surrendered,  yielding  to  the  Rebels  the  key  to  a  grand  strategic 
point.  Not  without  reason  has  this  wildly  beautiful  landscape 
been  lauded  by  European  tourists  of  culture  as  containing  the 
finest  scenery  in  America. 

Hall's  Island,  where  the  Fourteenth  camped  in  the  fearful 
February  temperature  of  1864,  and  the  heights  overlooking  the 
town,  previously  occupied  as  a  temporary  camp,  and  also  for  a 
night  in  August  of  that  year,  were  visited,  and  campaign  mem 
ories  revived. 

We  turn  away  from  Harper's  Ferry,  glad  to  escape  the  sor 
rowful  picture  of  its  irretrievable  stagnation,  yet  gratified  that 
the  associations  of  the  war  and  the  reminiscences  from  heroic 
campaigns  came  down  with  unchanged  adjuncts,  unm aired  by 
restorative  gloss  and  paint.  If  the  bugler  who  sounded  the 
"  halt,"  two  decades  ago,  died  before  he  could  wind  again  the 
grand  "  forward,"  along  these  vista  ranges  of  high-walled  ver 
dure,  it  is  certain  that  one  potent  force  is  not  baffled,  even  here. 
The  railroad  service  in  this  region,  scant  in  extent,  has  been 
contemptible  in  administration.  But  a  new  era  has  dawned 
upon  the  Valley ;  and  its  resources  are  being  adequately  devel 
oped,  through  the  energy  and  excellent  service  afforded  by  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  corporation,  which  runs  the  best-appointed 
express  and  way  trains  in  all  this  section,  furnishing  the  choicest 
of  facilities  to  business-men  and  tourists.  This  branch  of  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  extends  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  Staunton ; 
and  every  veteran  of  the  Valley  campaigns  will  be  startled  to 
behold  the  lightning-express  dash  through  breastwork  and  rifle- 


SOUTHERN  LEISURE.  367 

pit,  over  battle-fields  and  through  defiles,  portentous  of  Kebel 
ambuscades  and  guerilla  skirmishes. 

To  a  Yankee  it  is  a  curious  spectacle, — plenty  of  people 
hanging  around,  but  tying  up  to  loafing-posts,  aimless,  idle. 
We  were  obliged  to  scour  the  Valley  about  as  assiduously  as 
the  war  bummer  did  for  fresh  pork,  before  we  could  find  any 
body  doing  any  thing.  We  were  in  the  midst  of  a  more  leis 
urely  human  existence  than  New  England  ever  luxuriates  in. 
Even  the  carpenters  in  the  village  appeared  to  be  waiting  for 
the  tools  to  saw,  chisel,  or  plane  themselves  up  to  their  limp 
grasp.  The  "  New  South  "  is  not  here,  in  any  material  charac 
teristics. 

A  strange  inconsistency  confronts  the  traveller  in  the  Shen- 
andoah  Valley.  Whatever  may  be  antiquated  or  crude  in  the 
sluggish,  semi-Southern  life  of  this  naturally  magnificent  val 
ley,  the  principal  thoroughfares  are  notable  for  their  excellence. 
These  remarkable  "  pikes,"  so  valuable  in  contrast  with  inter 
secting  "dirt  roads,"  —  furrowed  arid  ridged  in  the  dry  season, 
and  veritable  "sloughs  of  despond"  in  the  wet,  —  are  unsur 
passed  by  any  road-bed,  city  or  suburban,  save  the  "shell  road  " 
and  an  asphalt  paving.  All  through  the  Civil  War,  over  the 
"  Winchester  Pike,"  the  Martinsburg,  the  Strasburg,  and  the 
Harrisonburg,  there  surged,  as  through  a  great  artery  of  the  na 
tion's  life,  the  best  blood  of  the  Union  and  Rebellion.  Scouts, 
guerillas,  Ashby  and  Custer,  Moseby  and  Averill,  dashed  up 
and  down,  in  terrible  play  of  battle  shuttlecock,  and  ever  recip 
rocating  sanguinary  tilts.  Multitudinous  batteries  of  artillery, 
leagues  of  ammunition,  baggage  and  commissary  wagons,  thun 
dered  and  toiled  over  these  famous  pikes ;  while  the  blue  and  the 
gray  lined  the  rich  adjacent  fields  in  startling  alternations. 

Here  Patterson,  Miles,  Hunter,  Sigel,  Shields,  Banks,  and 
Sheridan  displayed  their  Union  panoramic  tactics,  confronted 
by  the  indomitable  persistency  and  fine  strategy  of  "  Stonewall  " 
Jackson,  and  the  dash  and  valor  of  the  bravest  fighters  for  a 
wicked  and  hopeless  cause.  No  splendid  ancient  way,  immor 
talized  by  Roman  legions  and  the  tramp  of  the  empire's  victori 
ous  hosts,  could  unfold  such  romances  of  war  as  were  enacted 


368  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

along  the  pikes  of  the  Shenandoah.  We  struck  the  pike  in  fine 
condition  for  our  Valley  tramp,  sending  our  baggage  whirling 
along,  by  express-train,  up  the  sinuous  winding  of  a  stream 
whose  war  whisperings  to  anxious  Northern  homes  became 
scarcely  less  pathetic  than  those  of  the  Potomac  and  Chicka- 
hominy.  And  in  this  particular  we  experienced  the  first  nov 
elty  of  contrast:  for  in  the  Valley  campaign  of  1864  we,  first, 
carried  all  our  baggage  on  our  backs  ;  second,  we  had  no  bag 
gage  to  carry.  Folding  our  overcoats,  and  strapping  knapsacks, 
we  sent  them  to  Washington,  and  never  saw  them  any  more. 
Somebody  kindly  cared  for  that  baggage. 

We  strode  down  the  eminence  which  is  the  crown  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  tramped  cheerily  along  the  "  dirt "  road,  stumbling  over 
the  diabolical  volcanic  pavement  of  the  little  village  of  Bolivar, 
and  over  Miles's  fizzle  field.  Rising,  by  easy  grade  and  a  twist 
in  the  road,  to  the  summit  of  Bolivar  Heights,  our  "dirt"  road 
leads  us  to  the  pike ;  and,  rounding  the  high  curve,  we  stop  and 
behold  a  scene  of  natural  beauty  such  as  no  New-England  land 
scape  of  fertility  ever  afforded.  Such  a  spectacle,  so  lovely  and 
affluent  a  landscape,  must  stay  any  pen  not  mechanically  auto 
matic.  We  stood  there,  in  the  grand  display  and  culminating 
glories  of  the  harvest  season  ;  and  the  wide-spread  carpet  of  fer 
tility  stretched  away  up  the  Valley  to  the  vista's  limit,  the  rich 
soil  rolling  its  harvest  billows  well  up  the  sides  of  the  majestic 
mountain  ranges  on  either  side,  which  royally  cradle  the  Shen 
andoah. 

The  most  prosaic  tourist  can  hardly  repress  an  exclamation 
of  astonishment,  when  this  vision  of  prosperity  unfolds  before 
him,  from  stream-bed  meads  of  grass  away  to  hillside  vineyards. 
On  rolling  miles  of  fields  the  stooks  of  corn  stood  thick,  save 
where  the  scene  was  varied  by  the  rich  green  fields  of  winter 
wheat,  charmingly  interspersed  ;  with  occasional  foils  of  unri 
valled  timber  belts  heightening  the  effect.  To  the  civilian  this 
picture  must  appear  as  an  inspiration :  how,  then,  shall  the  vet 
eran  depict  the  contrast  between  the  devastation  and  ruin  of 
1864,  and  the  luxuriant  agricultural  magnificence  of  1881? 
Between  Bolivar  Heights  and  Berry ville  the  most  productive 


HALLTOWN  MEMORIES.  369 

acres  of  all  the  Valley  spread  out  in  perfect  convenience  for  till 
age.  We  should  immigrate  to  this  region  at  once,  could  a  New- 
England  community,  with  its  privileges,  be  set  down  here  in 
bulk. 

From  Bolivar  Heights  to  Halltown  is  a  pleasant  saunter,  af 
fording,  in  its  pike-side  views  of  home-life  and  agricultural 
methods,  an  epitome  of  all  planter  interests  in  Northern  Vir 
ginia.  Coming  into  the  "  town,"  I  looked  for  the  ruined  mill 
which  formed  the  salient  feature  in  my  memory's  photograph  of 
the  place.  But  one  other  spot  in  Halltown,  during  the  war, 
rivalled  the  picturesque  old  mill,  with  its  unveiled,  glaring, 
broken  wheel.  There  was  a  sutler's  shop,  where  cat  and  dog 
meat  pie  was  disbursed,  at  twenty-five  cents  per  ounce ;  and 
where  no  hardened  "  substitute  "  ever  dared  eat  pieces  from 
different  pies  at  the  same  meal,  fearing  that  the  ingredients, 
on  coming  together  in  one  stomach,  might  remember  and  revive 
their  ancient  feuds. 

Just  here  we  caught  a  hint  of  the  general  transformation 
from  the  dearth  and  death  of  rebellion's  era.  The  breeze  which 
erst  bore  to  us  the  bugle-order  or  reveille  drum-beat,  now  is 
heavy  with  bleachery  odors ;  and  we  discern  a  great  establish 
ment,  and  greater  stocks  of  straw.  The  old  mill  is  no  more  :  a 
big  paper-mill  holds  the  fort.  Clambering  up  the  strategic 
ridge,  we  easily  locate  the  old  camp,  even  to  our  own  precise 
battalion  front.  From  another  standpoint  we  behold  the  same 
landscape  which  so  delighted  us  on  Bolivar.  The  same  exuber 
ance  of  fruitful  tokens  and  wheat-green  fields  circle  wide  and 
far  on  every  hand.  Curiously  we  noted  corn-stocks  where  once 
fluttered  our  shelter-tents ;  and,  since  the  corn  was  harvested, 
the  ridge  had  been  ploughed, — the  corn,  in  shocks,  still  re 
maining, —  and  the  old  company  streets  and  color-line  were 
green-carpeted  with  fresh-sprung  wheat.  The  breastworks  and 
rifle-pits  are  clearly  discernible ;  though  here,  as  elsewhere,  they 
have  been  pretty  thoroughly  levelled  by  the  plough.  Some 
singular  exceptions  we  shall  hereafter  note. 

A  startling  episode  of  our  tarry  in  Halltown  was  experienced 
when  we  approached  a  group  of  men,  at  the  edge  of  the  town, 


370  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

all  clothed  in  gray  or  Rebel  butternut.  What  more  like  a  gen 
uine  Rebel  picket-post,  such  as  we  were  made  familiar  with 
in  all  this  region?  The  coincidence  was  sufficient  to  revive 
campaign  memories,  and  identify  the  present  with  the  past,  as 
though  but  a  day  had  intervened.  The  pilgrim  veteran  will 
not  be  pained  by  any  innovations  or  changes  in  this  vicinity  to 
mar  the  mental  picture  which  he  retains  of  this  fortified  camp, 
where  Early  pressed  his  reconnoissance  so  close  that  we  viewed 
a  skirmish-fight  stretching  away  across  the  Valley,  —  a  fine  duel 
of  the  liveliest  sort.  Plodding  on,  our  reveries  of  marches, 
"  Johnnies,"  and  hardtack  were  interrupted  by  a  spectacle  cal 
culated  to  excite  intense  disgust  in  the  mind  of  every  well- 
disciplined  veteran.  There  was  a  time  when  no  pig  was  known 
to  sound  an  inviting  grunt.  But  here  is  a  pig,  and  on  the  high 
way  of  tramping  armies  in  the  good  gone  da}^s ;  and  he  leers 
upon  us  with  the  impudent  confidence  that  bailiffs,  rather  than 
bayonets,  dominate  hereabouts.  To  aggravate  our  misery,  we 
actually  see  a  goose  ;  and  then,  worse  still,  at  least  half  a  dozen 
chickens.  We  feel  for  our  haversacks,  and  look  around  to  see  if 
the  colonel  will  notice  our  falling  out  of  line  for  a  little  fora 
ging,  wondering  greatly  that  the  boys  ahead  had  failed  to  "  scoop 
in  "  the  feathered  treasures.  Alas !  half  the  dear  fellows  are 
under  the  sod,  who  raised  the  exhilarating  shout  we  seem  to 
hear ;  the  haversacks  are  rotten  with  age ;  and  'twas  almost  two 
decades  in  the  past  when  that  rare  hunger  roused  us  to  such 
roaring  roasts  on  Rebel  rails. 

As  eighteen  years  ago,  so  now,  we  find  ourselves  quite  foot 
sore,  plodding  into  Charlestown.  Like  a  strangely  impressive 
incident  of  yesterday  do  we  recall  our  passage  through  this 
historic  town.  Our  own  column  of  the  army  passed  through  the 
main  street.  As  we  filed  into  it  from  the  open  country,  the 
route-step  changed  to  a  rhythmic  tread,  the  arms  were  brought 
to  uniformity,  the  colors  were  unfurled,  and  our  regimental 
band  struck  up,  — 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  a-mouldering  in  the  grave, 
But  his  soul  goes  marching  on." 


IN    THE    VALLEY. 


WONDERFUL  ENTHUSIASM.  371 

Then  was  witnessed  one  of  the  grandest  effects  that  ever 
stirred  an  army  to  enthusiasm.  There  was  little  in  the  long 
and  dusty  marches,  sweltering  heat,  and  enforced  privations,  to 
suggest  sentiment  or  romance  to  the  soldiers  in  this  arduous 
campaign.  But  rare  were  the  occasions  in  any  department 
throughout  the  Civil  War  when  the  soldiers  of  the  Union  were 
exalted  to  such  an  heroic  frame  as  was  this  army,  inspired  by 
the  associations  which  surround  the  place  where  the  fearless 
old  champion  of  the  slave  gave  up  his  life.  Never  did  we  see 
this  Union  host  in  such  a  terrible  mood  for  battle.  There  was 
an  almost  irrepressible  eagerness  for  a  fight  with  the  entire 
Rebel  army;  and  the  feeling  was  in  no  measure  lessened  as  we 
marched  past  the  jail  where  the  dreaded  man  was  confined, 
past  the  court-house  in  which  he  was  tried,  and  over  the  field 
where  he  was  hung.  Here  were  the  pious  relics  of  a  large- 
hearted  though  "fanatical"  patriotism;  and  from  this  shrine 
proceeded,  partly,  that  baptism  which  made  our  battalions 
invincible  in  every  conflict. 

We  find  the  court-house  repaired ;  the  jail,  gutted  by  aven 
ging  fire,  is  entirely  rebuilt :  and  we  turn  toward  the  field  of 
execution. 

Passing  along  the  street  through  which  the  old  man  rode, 
seated  upon  his  coffin,  we  tried  to  imagine  the  prisoner's 
thoughts,  —  a  solitary  man,  surrounded  by  the  serried  hosts  of 
the  "  Old  Dominion."  However  we  may  disapprove  his  wild 
endeavor,  no  one  can  pass  over  the  path  of  his  last  brief  jour 
ney,  look  over  the  green  fields  to  the  greener  mountains  upon 
whose  summits  his  dying  gaze  was  fixed  with  a  calmness  equal 
to  their  own  serenrty,  and  fail  to  realize  something  of  the 
grandeur  of  his  unselfish  nature. 

We  encountered  a  smart  scion  of  the  F.  F.  V.'s.  He  was 
manifestly  just  from  college,  and  he  must  have  bewildered  him 
self  as  much  as  he  puzzled  us  with  his  mathematical  erudition. 
"Can  you  tell  us  where  John  Brown  was  executed?"  He 
halted  gracefully,  struck  an  imposing  attitude,  regarded  his 
watch-chain  with  complacency  and  us  with  patronage. 

Let  his  reply  be  chronicled  with  faithful  precision:  "You 


372  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

observe  that  church  yonder.  Well,  draw  a  line  directly  through 
the  combing  of  that  church  ;  continue  it  on  three  or  four  streets 
to  where  another  line  running  diagonally  crosses  it;  and  just 
where  the  two  lines  intersect,  you  will  find  the  place,  in  the 
open  field  beyond  the  town,  where  the  execution  took  place." 
We  retained  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  return  thanks,  and 
then  leaned  over  a  hog-yard  fence  till  this  simple  direction 
could  be  transferred  to  the  ubiquitous  note-book.  Not  being 
"up"  in  double-entry  trigonometry  with  cipher  premises,  we 
turned  in  despair  to  a  sprightly  darky,  who  had  a  double- 
shuffle  breakdown  in  every  joint,  and  asked  him  the  same  ques 
tion.  "  You  jes'  climb  over  dat  yer  fence  dar,  and  make  fur  dat 
yer  stump,  and  dar's  de  spot."  We  stood  by  the  stump  of  the 
tree  in  whose  shade  the  gallows  was  erected  on  which  was 
enacted  a  tragedy  which  we  had  sung  to  the  music  of  the 
Union.  When  one  old  man  died  here,  a  great  Southern  empire 
breathed  easier. 

Standing  there  in  the  awe  of  an  event  which  was  the  prophet 
and  precursor  of  terrible  things,  we  dreamed  of  the  days  when  — 

"  Tramp,  tramp,  tramp,  the  boys  are  marching," 

enlivened  our  swinging  gait  through  this  old  town,  the  home  of 
the  worst  bushwhackers  in  all  the  region,  where  Rebel  wives 
and  daughters  glared,  through  breaks  in  closed  shutters,  at  the 
hated  "  Yankee  minions,"  as  we  pressed  the  "  splendid  chivalry 
of  the  Confederacy  "  up  the  Valley  at  a  smarter  pace  than  they 
had  ever  learned  before. 

We  pressed  on  to  Berryville,  where  Sheridan's  army  halted  to 
gather  itself  for  the  terrible  tiger-spring  of  September  19,  1864. 
It  was  a  curious  old  hotel  in  which  we  stopped,  much  like  the 
country  taverns  of  a  romance.  When  we  stopped  in  that  town 
on  a  former  occasion,  we  distinctly  remember  that  the  best 
room,  twenty  feet  square,  with  two  soft  beds,  etc.,  was  not 
assigned  to  us;  but  three  of  us  did  recline  on  a  hubby  side-hill, 
under  a  very  impalpable  shelter-tent,  with  plenty  of  room  to 
turn  over  provided  all  could  be  waked  and  induced  to  move  at 
once. 


YANKEE  AND  JOHNNIE.  373 

The  next  morning  we  interviewed  some  promiscuous  darky 
recollections  of  the  campaign  times ;  a  dubious  white  man  who 
was  "teeth  and  toe-nails  Union,"  —  a  kind  of  loyalty  more  fre 
quent  in  the  marital  than  the  military  state,  —  and  then  we 
strolled  a  mile  along  the  pike  toward  Winchester,  to  the  spot 
where  Moseby  hung  three  of  our  men  on  one  tree.  Back  to 
Berry ville ;  and  the  tramp  to  the  camp-ground  of  the  Four 
teenth  previous  to  the  great  fight  of  the  Opequan  was  sought 
out.  J.  Edward  Barnett,  a  Rebel  soldier  in  Poogue's  battery, 
Hill's  Third  Corps,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  escorted  us 
over  the  locus  in  quo,  and  explained  the  situation  where  the 
Yankee's  recollection  was  at  fault.  A  call  was  made  on  John 
W.  Luke,  whose  house,  just  in  rear  of  our  lines,  was  much  fre 
quented  by  Union  officers.  Away  in  front,  across  the  field, 
sloping  down  from  our  rifle-pits,  is  the  plantation  of  Henry 
Hewitt,  familiar  to  our  men  as  a  resort  for  water. 

We  wandered  over  the  rolling  hillside,  where  so  many  of  our 
boys  slept  their  last  night  on  earth  ;  we  looked  away  over  the 
familiar  landscape  to  the  west,  where  some  of  the  bravest  and 
best  who  ever  ennobled  any  army  caught  the  light  of  their  final 
sunset;  and  we  sat  down  as  in  a  mysterious  presence.  The 
quiet  Sunday  in  that  pleasant  spot,  preceding  the  dreadful 
Monday's  carnage,  came  back  to  us  in  memory  ;  and  we  saw  the 
dear  comrades  who  marched  out  that  night,  but  never  into 
another  camp,  as  they  grated  their  corn,  fried  their  batter, 
boiled  their  coffee,  and  filled  their  places  in  the  camp-fire  circles. 
It  was  the  last  camp-ground  of  scores  of  the  Fourteenth,  and 
the  ground  was  sacred.  .  We  followed  the  route  of  the  army 
toward  the  battle-ground,  tramping  along  the  pike.  The  Ope 
quan  ford,  Wood's  Mill,  Abraham's  Creek,  and  the  gorge,  were 
.  passed ;  and  then  we  stood  on  the  battle-field  of  Winchester. 

u  A  thousand  fantasies 
Began  to  throng  into  my  memory, 
Of  calling  shapes,  and  beckoning  shadows  dire !  " 

When  last  we  stood  on  that  field,  the  air  was  heavy  with  the 
smoke  of  conflict.     The  terrific  noises  of  battle  deafened  the 


374  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

ear,  and  the  ground  shook  under  the  flying  squadrons  of  Sheri 
dan's  cavalry. 

Where  the  men  fell  thickest,  and  most  of  our  boys  met  their 
death,  we  trod  over  broad  acres  ofx  the  most  peaceable  wheat 
beautifying  the  earth  with  refreshing  greenness.  This  battle 
ground  is  disappointing :  no  landmarks  remain,  and  it  is  very 
difficult  to  &K  upon  important  locations.  The  two  belts  of  tim 
ber,  which  formed  the  theatre  of  the  heroic  exploits  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps,  have  entirely  disappeared ;  and  the  general 
aspect  of  the  field  is  altogether  altered.  We  had  our  dinner  on 
the  battle-field,  in  a  house  built  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Jarrett,  at  the 
very  point  where  Jackson's  old  division  double-quicked  up  and 
checked  our  first  advance.  Mr.  Charles  B.  Spangler,  of  the 
Tenth  Va.,  who  was  fighting  us  that  day,  was  our  escort  over 
the  field.  We  plodded  into  Winchester  at  night  loaded  down 
with  bullets  and  a  ten-pound  cannon-ball  fired  at  us  by  the 
Johnnies  on  that  day  of  victory  and  glory. 

Winchester  is  the  same  half-nice,  half-shabby,  predominatingly 
nondescript  town  that  it  was  in  the  days  when  Union  and  Rebel 
armies  played  shuttlecock  with  it.  We  found  just  two  hotels  in 
the  place,  and  that  was  two  too  many,  of  the  kind.  After  a 
careful  investigation,  the  sound  conclusion  was  reached,  that, 
at  whichever  of  these  two  houses  you  determine  to  stop,  you 
should  be  sure  and  go  to  the  other.  Entering  the  hall,  a  pan- 
demoniac  bedlam  was  the  first  attraction,  —  a  wiggling,  kicking 
pyramid  of  small-fry  being  piled  in  the  centre  of  the  apartment. 
There  was  no  discrimination  on  account  of  color  or  previous 
condition  :  for  woolly  pates  and  white  legs  were  twined  in  comi 
cal  and  inextricable  snarls ;  ages,  sexes,  and  colors  being  frater 
nally  mixed. 

From  Winchester  to  Cedar  Creek  we  pressed  on  in  the  early 
morning,  every  inch  of  the  way  historic  and  eventful  to  Sheri 
dan's  army.  We  took  breakfast  with  the  famous  Rebel  Larrick, 
who  shows  the  solid  shot  the  Yanks  fired  into  his  hotel,  which 
further  received  a  general  battering  from  the  Union  musketry. 
We  visited  Miller's  Mill,  held  by  both  sides  in  the  afternoon  of 
that  fluctuating  day. 


THE  PILGRIM  AT  CEDAR   CREEK.  375 

Cedar-Creek  battle-field  is  almost  precisely  as  when  fought 
over;  save  that  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Branch  Railroad  is 
doing  a  thriving  business,  running  its  trains  through  the  stream- 
bed  portions  of  the  field.  Here  we  found  the  station-agent  and 
postmaster,  A.  L.  Ebersole,  an  excellent  host;  and  we  ate  a 
good  dinner  at  more  leisure  than  when  the  Johnnies  were 
running  us  over  that  very  spot  in  '64.  Here,  again,  we  were 
fortunate  in  the  relic  line ;  Mr.  Ebersole  furnishing  us  with 
choice  mementos  of  the  celebrated  battle.  Mr.  George  Staples, 
an  opponent  on  that  day  when  Sheridan  was  "  twenty  miles 
away,"  then  a  member  of  the  Lynchburg  Artillery,  was  plough 
ing  on  the  field  ;  and  agreeable  reminiscences  of  the  fight  were 
exchanged.  Curiously,  he  was  met  at  the  very  point  where  the 
Rebel  column  was  first  observed  by  the  Fourteenth  Regiment, 
charging  upon  us,  on  the  19th  of  October. 

The  line  of  breastworks  extending  from  the  pike  to  the 
ravine,  which  ran  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  Fourteenth's  loca 
tion,  are  in  almost  perfect  condition,  not  having  been  cut  by 
plough  or  spade.  The  large  white  mansion,  now  embowered 
in  ornamental  trees,  which  Gen.  Sheridan  occupied  as  his  head 
quarters,  fills  its  place  in  the  landscape  with  the  same  pictur- 
,esqueness  familiar  to  the  Valley  campaigner  of  1864.  Cedar 
Creek  winds  in  its  romantic  sinuosities  to  the  still  more  crooked 
Shenandoah,  with  not  an  iota  of  apparent  change  in  the  scene 
ry.  The  far-away  hill,  —  Round  Top,  —  beyond  Strasburg  and 
Fisher's  Hill,  with  its  belt  of  cleared  timber  over  the  summit, 
used  by  the  Rebels  as  an  observatory,  is  undisturbed  in  its  war 
time  aspects. 

We  visited  Strasburg,  and  climbed  the  still  well-preserved 
parapets  of  Fort  Banks,  from  which  the  Rebels  on  Fisher's  Hill 
were  bombarded  by  Gen.  Banks,  with  the  brilliant  result  of 
each  side  being  able  to  hold  its  own  intrenchments. 

From  Strasburg  we  tramped  on  to  Fisher's  Hill,  the  pike 
running  near  the  Shenandoah  in  one  of  its  most  delightful 
sections.  Here  the  Sixth  Corps  advanced  to  the  attack;  while 
along  the  rocky  elevation,  rising  abruptly  from  the  pike,  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  poured  its  line-of-battle.  Here  again  we 


376  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

fell  in  with  an  ex-Rebel  whom  we  sent  trotting  toward  Rich 
mond  from  these  heights.  The  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
runs  between  the  woods  out  of  which  we  debouched  when 
coming  under  fire  and  the  line  of  attack  followed  by  the  Four 
teenth. 

Striking  the  ridge  of  timber,  from  which  the  regiment 
emerged  to  begin  the  battle,  we  followed  its  course  exactly 
until  the  pike  was  reached,  and  the  stone  bridge  (see  illustra 
tion)  was  crossed,  and  the  army  started  on  its  all-night  pursuit 
of  the  demoralized  foe.  Woodstock,  Mount  Jackson,  Newmar 
ket,  were  passed  in  turn ;  but  feet  were  too  sore,  and  legs  too 
tired,  to  plod  farther  on  foot,  "just  for  the  fun  of  it,"  and  the 
remainder  of  the  journey  up  the  Valley  was  taken  in  an  elegant 
car  of  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  road.  There  is  no  campaign  of 
the  war  more  interesting  for  study  to  the  veteran  or  civilian 
traveller  than  that  of  Sheridan's  in  the  Valley ;  and  nowhere, 
through  the  South,  are  such  facilities  afforded. 

From  Harper's  Ferry  to  Lynchburg  every  mile  has  been 
fought  over,  and  the  railroad  mentioned  whirls  its  frequent 
trains  directly  across  these  famous  battle-fields.  Here  are 
shrines  worthy  of  enthusiastic  pilgrimages  by  all  who  wore  the 
blue.  The  towns  along  the  lines  of  march  and  battle  would 
never  awaken  a  sad  reflection  in  any  Rip  Van  Winkle  who 
might  have  "  skedaddled  "  during  the  late  "  unpleasantness," 
and  returned  perhaps  yesterday.  Had  he  left  his  pair  of  mules 
hitched  to  the  post  of  a  corner  grocery,  doubtless  he  would  have 
found  them  undisturbed.  Certainly,  not  a  clapboard  appears  to 
have  fallen  off,  nor  a  shingle  to  have  been  replaced.  There 
were  the  uncouth  wagons,  shaped  like  a  Chinese  junk,  with  the 
negro  driver  still  pulling  the  jerk-rein,  and  bawling  out  his 
mellifluous  "  Wah-hoo  !  Yi-yay  !  "  Farmers  rode  into  towns  in 
pairs,  dressed  in  gray  or  butternut ;  and  we  couldn't  get  rid  of 
the  notion  that  they  were  Moseby's  guerilla  patrols. 

Harrisonburg  will  be  remembered  by  the  Fourteenth.  We 
did  not  forget  to  call  upon  that  good  Union  Dutchman, 
Feuchtenberger,  who  slyly  supplied  our  boys  with  soft  bread. 
He  is  rich,  but  runs  his  bake-shop  still.  There  is  life  and  enter- 


THE  LAST  MARCH.  377 

prise,  and  much  of  beautiful  architecture,  in  Harrisonburg ;  and 
from  its  heights  of  observation  the  grand  ridges,  which  enclose 
the  loveliest  valley  of  all  the  South,  settle  back  into  vistas  which 
reveal  wondrous  glories  under  the  gilding  touch  of  the  setting 
sun. 

Our  march  is  finished.  We  unsling  the  old  knapsack,  and 
hang  it  on  the  tent-pole,  and  dream  of  fifty  years  to  come,  when 
some  sprightly  paragrapher  shall  say  of  one  of  our  decrepit  vet 
erans  whom  he  remembers,  that  he  — 

"  Wept  o'er  his  wounds,  or,  tales  of  sorrow  done, 
Shouldered  his  crutch,  and  showed  how  fields  were  won." 

While  the  Union  soldier,  returning  for  a  reconnoissance  of 
the  fields  of  his  marches  and  sanguinary  triumphs,  will  be  made 
to  feel  that  he  heard  the  last  reveille,  cooked  his  coffee,  and 
rolled  his  dew-heavy  blanket,  but  yesterday,  and  will  find  him 
self  strangely  at  home  amid  the  scenes  of  his  flitting  conflict- 
life,  —  still  Nature  has  put  on  a  new  gown  in  which  to  greet 
him,  and  the  grand  old  Valley  displays  a  magnificence  which 
no  campaigner  ever  gazed  upon. 


378  FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


VII. 
STA  TIS  TICAL    TABLES. 

THE  statistics  grouped  in  the  following  tables  have  been  pro 
cured  from  three  sources :  first,  and  chiefly,  from  members  of 
the  regiment  in  response  to  circulars  calling  for  the  information 
given ;  second,  from  the  official  records  in  the  office  of  the 
Adjutant-General;  third,  from  relatives  and  friends  of  mem 
bers  whose  address  was  unknown,  or  who  were  deceased. 

That  the  records  of  some  companies  are  less  complete  than 
others,  is  not  the  fault  of  the  committee :  the  most  time  and 
effort  has  been  expended  on  companies  whose  tables  are  most 
incomplete.  The  indifference  of  many  members  has  been  a 
serious  hinderance  to  the  work,  and  is  wholly  unaccountable. 

That  positive  accuracy  has  been  secured  is  not  claimed,  nor 
is  it  to  be  expected:  every  effort  has  been  made,  however,  to 
secure  it. 

It  is  proposed  to  print,  from  time  to  time,  on  slips  suitable  for 
insertion  in  the  volume,  such  additions  to  Tables  VIII.  and  IX. 
as  time  is  sure  to  bring.  Members  are  earnestly  requested  to 
forward  to  the  secretary,  promptly,  such  record  of  the  decease 
of  comrades  that  may  come  to  their  notice  as  is  required  to 
complete  the  Table  VIII.  and  such  information  as  is  now  want 
ing  in  Table  IX. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


379 


TABLE  I. 

ORIGINAL    ROSTER. 

FIELD,    STAFF,    AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

cS 

5D 

< 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Commission. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Robert  Wilson,  Colonel  x. 
Tilest.  A.  Barker,  U.-  Colt 

Keene  . 
Westmoreland  . 

51 
55 

Lawyer    . 
Mail-agent 

Sept.    19,1862, 
19,  1862, 

Sept.      6,  1864. 
Feb.       5,  1865. 

Samuel  A.  Duncan,  J/ry'.2 

Plainfield 

26 

Coll.  prof. 

22,  1862, 

May       4,  1866. 

Alexander  Gardiner,  Adj? 

Claremont 

30 

Lawyer    . 

20,  1862. 

William  A.  Heard,  Q.M.t 

Sandwich 

35 

Merchant 

16,  1862, 

Oct.      15,  1863. 

Win.  U.  Thayer,  Surg*  . 

Keene  . 

40 

Physician 

19,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Marshall  Perkins,  A.  8*  . 

Marlow 

40 

Physician 

23,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Franklin  C.  Weeks,  A.  S.  5 

Chester 

27 

Physician 

23,  1862. 

Elihu  T.  Rowe,  GhapVnf 

Plainlield 

48 

Teacher  . 

Oct.        3,  1862, 

20,  1863. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

<a 
fco 

4 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Wm.  H.  Bryant,  Sgl.Maj."- 
AlbertF.  Hussey,  Q.Jf.tiJ 
Milton  S.  Howe,  Cora.  Sqt.° 

Meriden 
Dover  . 
Jaft'rey 

22 
23 
24 

Clerk       . 
Clerk 
Law-student   . 

Sept.   23,  1862, 
20,  1862, 
Aug.    14,  1862. 

May     20,  1864. 
July       8,  1865. 

G-.  D.  Richardson,  ILS'd* 

Keene  .        .        . 

20 

Clerk 

Oct.       2,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Total    ...      13 

COMPANY    A. 


Frank  T.  Barker,  Captain, 
Charles  P.  Hall,  1st  Lieut.1 

Westmoreland   . 
Westmoreland   . 

24 
23 

Exp.  mess'ger, 
Teacher  . 

Aug.    31,  1862, 
9,  1862, 

April  21,  1864. 
July      8,  1865. 

Norman  Howe,  2d  Lieut.  . 

Hinsdale 

32 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

Nov.      3,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Frederick  L.  Thomas,  1st,0 

Hinsdale 

25 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    11,  1862. 

Russell  F.  Smith  "    . 

Hinsdale     . 

28 

Weaver    . 

11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Henry  B.  Fay  ". 

Hinsdale     . 

28 

Spinner    . 

11,  1862, 

June    17,  1865. 

Jesse  A.  Fisk  12  .        . 

Dublin 

26 

Farmer    . 

9,  1862. 

Elbridge  Smith  . 

Marlow 

28 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

Oct.     10,  1864. 

CORPORALS. 

Holland  Wheeler  «   . 
German  Dunham  14    . 

Westmoreland   . 
Hinsdale      . 

25 

24 

Scythe-maker, 
Spinner    . 

Aug.    31,1862, 
11,  1862. 

July      8,  1865. 

Charles  C.  Wilson  ™  . 

Sullivan 

22 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

A.  Henry  Latham  *   . 

Hinsdale 

23 

Weaver    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Asaph  W.  Pierces     . 

Dublin 

21 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

F.  Eugene  Hastings  . 

Hinsdale 

20 

Farmer    .        . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bethuel  J.  Davis 

Surry  . 

27 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

JewettP.  Wellman*. 

Hiusdale     . 

19 

Clerk 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

MUSICIAN. 

Henry  M.  Staples  »    . 

Keene  . 

19 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

John  II.  Coggin  4 

Hinsdale 

24 

Teamster 

Aug.    11,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

1  Tables  II.,  VIII.  6  Table  IV. 

2  Table  III.  .  e  Table  VIII. 

3  Tables  III.,  V.  7  Tables  II.,  III. 

*  Table  II.  8  Tables  III.,  VIII. 


9  Tables  IV.,  VI. 

10  Tables  III.,  VI.,  VII. 

11  Transf.  V.  R.  C.  Jan. 

20, 1865. 


12  Tables  III.,  V. 

is  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI. 

"  Deserted  Feb.  23, 1863. 


380 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  A  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

m 

bo 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Adarns,  Frederick  M. 

Dublin 

21 

Student    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Amsden,  John  1  . 

Hinsdale 

44 

Lumber-dealer, 

11,  1862. 

Barrett,  Jacob    .        . 

Hinsdale      . 

26 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Benton,  Frank  G.2     . 

Keene  . 

21 

Blacksmith 

29,  1862, 

Dec.     12,  1864. 

Bigelow,  Milton  W.  . 

Ilinsdale     . 

19 

Polisher  . 

11,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Bishop,  William2 

Hinsdale      . 

22 

Finisher  . 

20,  1862, 

March  16,  1865. 

Britton,  George  II.    . 

Westmoreland 

26 

Farmer    . 

8,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Brock,  Charles  E.3     . 

Keene  . 

18 

Carpenter 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Burgess,  Charles  H.2 

Westmoreland 

27 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862, 

Dec.     18,  1863. 

Butler,  John  II. 

Chesterfield 

19 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Carruth,  Thomas  H.4 

Hinsdale     . 

19 

Machinist 

11,  1862. 

Chamberlain.  Ira  B.4. 

Hinsdale     . 

18 

Carder 

11,  1862. 

Crowninshield,  Daniel5 

Ilinsdale     . 

35 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Daggett,  Albert  M.6  . 

Hinsdale      . 

25 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Derby,  Charles  L.      . 

Westmoreland 

22 

Fanner    . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Dunn,  Noble  T.4 

Keene  . 

27 

Farmer    . 

16,  1862. 

Evans,  Nelson  R.       . 

Hinsdale     . 

18 

Currier     . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Fisher,  Lyman  II.      . 

Hinsdale     . 

28 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

Oct.        3,  1863. 

Fiske,  Charles  R.7      . 

Dublin 

19 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

June    20,  1865. 

Fleming,  Joseph  G.  . 

Hinsdale 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

French,  Preston  L.2  . 

Dublin 

24 

Farmer    . 

9,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Fuller,  David  J. 

Dublin 

22 

Fanner    . 

9,  1862, 

June     4,  1865. 

Gary,  Timothy  M.     . 

Westmoreland 

18 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Good,  Benjamin 

Hinsdale      . 

41 

Lumberman    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Goodnow,  Edwin  J.  6 

Westmoreland 

26 

Mechanic 

7,  1862, 

Feb.       8,  1865. 

Greeley,  James  K.6   . 

Westmoreland 

18 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Greenwood,  Albert  C.8 

Dublin 

20 

Farmer    .        . 

11,  1862. 

Greenwood,  E.  Tyler  " 
Hall,  Franklin  J.3      - 

Marlboro  ugh 
Westmoreland 

21 
19 

Painter    . 
Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 
Aug.    14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Hanrahan,  Martin  6    . 

Ilinsdale      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Holden,  Leonard  S.3. 

Swanzey     . 

30 

Mechanic 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Holt,  Russell  T.4 

Sullivan 

23 

Carpenter 

16,  1862. 

Holt,  Samuel  P  ">       . 

Dublin 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Horton,  Charles  H.    . 

Hinsdale      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Keith,  Fay4 

Westmoreland 

44 

Painter    . 

13,  1862. 

Kenney,  Chauncey    . 
King,  John  L.11  . 

Snrry  . 
Hinsdale     . 

29 
24 

Farmer    . 
Fanner    . 

13,  1862, 
11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Knowlton,  Luke.jun.12 

Marlborough 

32 

Mechanic 

31,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Knowlton,  Charles4  . 
Knowlton,  Asa  .        . 

Marlborough 
Dublin 

24 

28 

Mechanic 
Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862. 
Aug.    12,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Leach,  Albert  G.4      . 

Westmoreland 

21 

Druggist's  cl'k 

14,  1862. 

Leach,  Charles  II.*    . 

Westmoreland 

19 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Leach,  Samuel  I.13     . 

Westmoreland 

21 

Student    . 

31,  1862, 

21,  1865. 

Lewis,  George  W.1*  . 
Liscom,  Samuel  E.6  . 

Hinsdale     . 
.  Ilinsdale     . 

21 

25 

Machinist 
Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 
11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
10,  1865. 

Liscom,  L.  Frank3    . 

Hinsdale      . 

21 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McC,  >llester,  Sumner  L.6 

Marlborough 

25 

Pail-turner 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Mason,  David     . 

Dublin 

36 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Mason,  Allison  ZJ    . 
Mason,  James  B.12     . 
Matthews,  Edwin  B. 
Merrifield,  Simeon,  jun. 

Dublin 
Westmoreland 
Marlborough 
Troy    . 

22 
23 
23 
37 

Student    . 
Teacher  . 
Blacksmith      . 
Painter    . 

12,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
Sept.      1,  1862, 
Aug.    14,  1862, 

7,  1865. 
Dec.     12,  1864. 
July       8,  1865. 
May     17,  1865. 

Nims,  Edwin  I.4 
Packard,  Alonzo  C.  . 

Sullivan 
Hinsdale     . 

19 
33 

Farmer    . 
Fanner    . 

13,  1862. 
11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Peeler,  Charles  A.w  . 
Perham,  Elbridge      . 

Hinsdale      . 
Hinsdale     . 

23 

28 

Gigger  .  . 
Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 
11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Pierce,  Almon  G.15    . 

Dublin 

18 

Student    . 

11,  1862. 

Pierce,  William  H.«  . 

Policy,  Charles  F.      . 

Marlborough 
Hinsdale      . 

18 
19 

Fanner    . 
Finisher  . 

11,  1862, 
11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Policy,  Gilbert  C.*     . 
Pratt,  William  L.2      . 
Rawson,  Isaac  W.9    . 

Hinsdale     . 
Westmoreland 
Westmoreland 

18 
19 
20 

Carder     . 
Fanner    . 
Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 
11,  1862, 
14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

i  Transf.V.  11.  C.  Jan.  6, 

1864.    Table  VIII. 
»  Table  VIII. 
»  Table  III. 


*  Table  IV. 

fi  Tables  IV.,  VII. 

e  Table  VI. 

7  Table  II. 


8  Table  V. 

9  Tables  III.,  VI.,  VIII. 

10  Tables  III.,  V. 

11  Tables  II.,  III. 


i2  Tables  III.,  VI. 
«Tr.V.R.C.,Dec.5,'64. 
"  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI. 
IB  Tables  III.,  IV. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 
TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  A  —  Continued. 


381 


NAME. 

Residence. 

1 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Richardson,  David  L. 
Richardson,  Mi  lo  J.1  . 
Robbing,  George  B.  . 
Smith,  Orson  G. 
Snow.  Joel  L.     .        •        • 

Stoddard     . 
Chesterfield 
Hinsdale 
Hinsdale      . 
Hinsdale 

28 
19 
25 
23 
25 

Farmer    . 
Machinist 
Laborer   . 
Farmer     . 
Box-maker 

Aug.    13,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
Feb.       5,  1863. 
July      8,  1865. 
25,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Spaulding,  Henry  D.2 
Sp  rag  ue,  Andrew 

Surry  . 
Hinsdale 

20 

Blacksmith      . 
Cabinet-maker, 

13,  1862. 
11,  1862, 

Jan.     11,  1865. 

Starkey,  WilliamS.2. 
Streeter,  Isaiah  C.      . 
Timothy,  Frederick  A.      . 
Tupper,  Alonzo  W.3 
Wardwell,  George  O.*       . 
Wheeler,  Lyman  K.5 
Whitcomb,  Franklin  C.«   . 
Whittemore,  Curtis  A.1     . 
Winchester,  Sidney  P.i     . 
Woodward,  Hiram    . 
Wright,  Georga  A.?  . 
Wyman,  Nathaniel  B.8 

Westmoreland    . 
Hinsdale 
Westmoreland   . 
Troy    . 
Sullivan 
Fitzwilliam 
Swanzey 
Trqy    . 
Westmoreland    . 
Westmoreland   . 
Hinsdale     . 
Hinsdale      . 

19 
18 
19 
23 
18 
34 
18 
18 
21 
24 
29 
19 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Painter    . 
Farmer    . 
Mechanic 
Turner     . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Gigger     . 
Weaver    . 

27,  1862. 
11,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
16,  1862, 
15,  1862, 
Sept.     2,  1862, 
Aug.    15,  1862, 
13,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
11,  1862. 

July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
March  27,  1863. 
May     19,  1865. 
July       8,  1865. 

Young,  Sidney  H.8     . 

Westmoreland   . 

24 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Total     .        .        .100 

RECRUITS. 
Carroll,  Horace9 

Plaistow      . 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.      3,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Crowninshield,  Arnold  C.2 

Hinsdale      . 

19 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     15,  1863. 

Evans,  Stephen  W.10 
Hamilton,  Thomas  C. 

Grafton 
Gilford 

18 
26 

Laborer   . 
Steward  . 

Aug.      3,  1864. 
3,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Lewis,  Reuben  A. 

Chesterfield 

24 

Wood-turner  . 

Sept.    17,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Mitchell,  John  K. 

Keene 

30 

Painter     . 

Dec.       8,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Thomas,  Henry  A.    . 
Welch,  Michael" 

Newbury     . 
Milford 

26 
31 

Sailor 
Farmer    . 

July     28,  1864, 
28,  1864, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Total     ...        8 

AGGREGATE        .    108 

COMPANY    B. 


John  G.Johnson,  G'tpt.    . 
Artemas  M.  Adams,  lnt  Lt. 
Chas.  E.  Holbrook,  Id  Lit 

Walpole 
Walpole 
Charlestown 

20 
35 
25 

Carr.  maker    . 
Shirt  manuf'r  . 
Mechanic 

Aug.    21,  1862, 
Oct.        9,  1862, 
Aug.    13,  1862, 

April  10,  1863. 
6,  1863. 
May       5,  1864. 

SERGEANTS. 

Henry  E.  Barrett,  Isi!9      . 
Henry  Knight9  . 
Charles  H.  Jennison  . 
George  A.  White 
Frank  O.  Pierce^ 

Charlestown 
Marlow 
Walpole 
Charlestown 
Langdon 

24 

26 
23 
25 

26 

Baker 

Mechanic 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Box-maker 

Aug.    16,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
22,  1862, 

March  22,  1864. 
May     31,  1865. 
July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
Sept.   11,1865. 

C                  AT.S 

Austin  H.  Wolf9    '   . 
Albert  II.  Tyrell11     . 
Clement  G.  Lane7      . 
Charles  L.  Green 
William  R.  Dunham2 
George  R.  Knapp  [    . 
Jonathan  Turner 
Charles  E.  Hartwell  . 

Walpole      . 
Charlestown 
Walpole      . 
Walpole 
Marlow 
Charlestown 
Walpole 
Walpole      . 

23 
20 

•20 
20 
38 
20 
29 
23 

Farmer    . 
Miller       . 
Laborer  . 
Farmer     . 
Farmer    . 
Shoemaker 
Carp,  andb'd'r, 
Farmer    . 

Aug.      8,  1862, 
Sept.      6,  1862, 
Aug.    22,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
13,  1862, 
4,  1862, 
22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
8.  1865. 
June    15,  1865. 
Feb.     22,  1863. 
Jan.     10,  1865. 
July      8,  18  i5. 
May     16,1865. 
July      8,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Charles  H.  Gilbert     . 
Chauucey  L.  Corbin  . 

Walpole 

Charlestown 

21 
18 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.      9,  1862, 
13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
Jan.     19,  1864. 

WAGONER. 
Jacob  S.  Pierce  2 

Walpole      . 

28 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    22,1862, 

July     14,  1863. 

1  Table  VIII. 

2  Table  IV. 

s  Tables  VI.,  VIII. 


*  Tables  II.,  III. 

6  Table  VI. 

e  Tables  II.,  VI. 


i  Table  II. 

8  Table  V. 

9  Table  IU. 


10  Tables  IV.,  VII. 

"  Tables  III.,  VI.,  VIII. 


382 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  B  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

ReBidence. 

5J 

bo 
<! 

Occupation. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Abbott,  Warren  l 

Charlestown 

28 

Machinist 

Aug.    15,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Adams,  Lewis2 

Langdon 

44 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862. 

Adams.  Norman  L.3. 

Charlestown 

24 

Farmer     . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Barker,  William  A.4. 

Walpole 

27 

Blacksmith      . 

18,  1862. 

Benson,  Ellery  C. 

Walpole      . 

20 

Farmer     . 

8,  1862, 

June      7,  1865. 

Blake.IraE.fi     . 

Walpole      . 

21 

Farmer    . 

9,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Bosworth,  William  J.*      . 

Charlestown 

27 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Bracket!,  Freeman  E.6 

Marlow 

26 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bragg,  Willard  E.  S.*        . 

Walpole      . 

2  '2 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862. 

Brown,  Charles  H.*  . 

Walpole 

21 

Laborer   . 

10,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Brown,  Rodney  J.     . 

A  1  stead 

26 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bundy,  Amasa  T.1     . 

Walpole 

37 

Miller       . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Oaldwell,  Daniel  F.  . 

Walpole      . 

25 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Caldwcll,  Joseph  W. 

Walpolej     . 

23 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862, 

April     4,  1864. 

Colburn,  Wilson  W. 

Walpole      . 

25 

Miller       . 

9,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Cooley,  John  F. 

Charlestown 

22 

Shoemaker 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Corbin,  James  \VJ    . 

Charlestown 

28 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cornwell,  Richard  B.8 

Charlestown 

21 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Dickey,  George  P.1   . 

Marlow 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Easter,  Henry    . 

Charlestown 

35 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Emerson,  Bellows  5  . 

Walpole 

32 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    13,  1862, 

Feb.       5,  1863. 

Farns  worth,  John  S.5 

Walpole      . 

30 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    18,  1862, 

-,  1865. 

French,  Henry  C.*     . 

Walpole      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Gassett,  Daniel  5 

Marlow 

22 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

Sept.   28,  1865. 

Gassett,  Ira  II.  . 

Marlow 

24 

FaVmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Gates,  Benjamin,  2d  * 

Walpole      . 

36 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Gates,  Henry  H.8 
Gowen,  Charles  R.    . 

Walpole      . 

Marlow 

21 
16 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

8,  1862, 
22,  1862, 

26,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Gowen,  George  M.    . 

Marlow 

21 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

Oct.       8,  1863. 

Grandy,  James  C. 

Marlow 

22 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

May     10,  1863. 

Graves,  Frank  B. 

Walpole      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    23,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Green,  Charles  L.      . 

Walpole 

24 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

June    25,  1865. 

Green,  Hiram     . 

Charlestown 

40 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Hasham,  John  * 

Charlestown 

18 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Hatch,  Edward  P.      . 

Alstead 

20 

Farmer    . 

Sept.     1,  1862, 

Aug.    13,  1863. 

Hooper,  Henry  H.*    . 

Walpole      . 

21 

Painter     . 

Aug.    25,  1862. 

Hopkins,  John  . 

Alstead 

27 

Farmer    . 

16,  1862, 

July    23,  1863. 

Kanelion,  Michael     . 

Walpole 

35 

Laborer   . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Kelley,  John 

Charlestown 

35 

Farmer     . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Kenyon,  David  Y.8    . 

Walpole      . 

26 

Farmer    . 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Keyes,  George  Alfred  9     . 

Walpole 

20 

Farmer    . 

6,  1862, 

-,  1*65. 

King,  John 

Charlestown 

36 

Farmer    . 

21,  1S62, 

8,  1865. 

Kreatzer,  John  F.6     . 

Walpole 

44 

Farmer    . 

4,  1862, 

23,  1863. 

Kreatzer,  Otis  P."     . 

Walpole 

18 

Farmer    . 

6,  1862. 

Lawrence,  Willard  10 

Charlestown 

40 

Farmer     . 

13,  1862. 

Li-land,  Van  Buren  6 

Charlestown 

22 

Fanner     . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Livingston,  Edward  H.*   . 

Walpole      . 

37 

Shoemaker 

25,  1862. 

Marshall,  ITarlan  P." 

Charlestown 

22 

Farmer     . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McKean,  Patrick 

Charlestown 

29 

Shoemaker 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McMahan,  Michael 

Charlestown 

19 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McMann,  William 

Charlestown 

19 

Shoemaker 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Melville,  Charles  H. 

Charlestown 

24 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Munroe,  Ora       .                 . 

Marlow 

42 

Farmer 

15,  1862, 

April  14,  1865. 

O'Brien,  Patrick 

Charlestown 

25 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Parks,  Fred  S.»  . 

Charlestown 

21 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Parks,  George  W.1" 

Charlestown 

26 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Perrigo,  George  10 

Walpole      . 

25 

Hostler    . 

16,  1862. 

Porter,  Charles  E. 

Walpole      . 

23 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Powers,  James  F.5 

Marlow 

18 

_           _ 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Putnam,  Orson  D.* 

'yharlcstown 

44 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    30,  1862. 

Reason,  Henry  . 

Walpole 

20 

Laborer   . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Richardson,  Levi  G.* 

Dharlestown 

39 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Roundy,  Edwin  E.    . 

Walpole      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Roundy,  Franklin  W. 

Walpole      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Rumrill,  Lucius  l 

Charlestown 

25 

Farmer    .        . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

1  Table  IT. 

2  Table  VII. 

s  Tables  II.,  III. 


<  Table  IV. 
6  Table  VIII. 
e  Table  III. 


7  Transf.  Co.  A. 

«  Table  VI. 

o  Tables  II.,  VI 


10  Table  V. 

11  Tables  III.,  VIII. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


383 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  B  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

<a 

bD 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Shepard,  Harvey  E.1 
Sherman,  George  A.2 

Walpole      . 
Walpole      . 

18 
24 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1862 
11,  1862 

July      8,  1865. 

Smith,  Erastus3 

Charlestown 

30 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862 

8,  1865. 

Spencer,  Benjamin  E. 
Spooner,  Stephen  A.* 
Sullivan,  Thomas  O. 

Alstead 
Charlestown 
Charlestown 

37 
24 

Farmer     . 
Carpenter 
Shoemaker 

27,  1862 
15,  1862 
15,  1862 

8,  1865. 
Jan.     16,  1865. 
July       7,  1864. 

Tahen,  Thomas 

Walpole      . 

37 

Shoemaker 

9,  1862 

8,  1865. 

Templeman,  KlnathanR.2, 

Walpole 

20 

Painter     .        . 

7,  1862 

8,  1865. 

Tyler,  William  E.5     . 

Walpole      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Wetherbee,  George  L.6     . 

Walpole      . 

26 

Farmer    .        . 

30,  1862. 

Wilder,  Henry   . 

Walpole      . 

32 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

March  28,  1863. 

Wilkins,  Albert  TJ  . 

Walpole      . 

23 

Laborer   . 

July     29,  1862. 

Willis,  Paul  S.8. 

A  1  stead 

32 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    30,  1862, 

July      8,1865. 

Wilson,  Charles  E.    . 

Walpole      . 

29 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862, 

Dec.     12,  1862. 

Wilson,  Rockwell  B. 
Wright,  Charles  H.9  . 

AValpole      . 
Charlestown 

18 
18 

Clerk 
Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 
1.3,  1S62, 

July    15,  1863. 
May     24,  1865. 

Wyman,  Samuel  E.7. 

AValpole      . 

31 

Laborer  . 

July    28,  1862. 

Total    .        .        .101 

RECRUITS. 

Adams,  John  Loren  . 

Charlestown 

23 

Saloon-keeper, 

Dec.    22,1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Anderson,  James  10   . 

Strath  am     . 

22 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Charlestown       • 

18 

Laborer  •        . 

Dec.    22,  1863. 

Armstrong,  Henry  J.10 

Rochester   . 

21 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Bailev,  Emanuel  D.  G.      . 

Charlestown 

25 

Farmer    . 

March  12,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Bradshaw,  Charles10 

Farmington 

26 

Sailor 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Brown,  Charles  10      . 

Rochester   . 

23 

Teamster 

14,  1863. 

Brown,  William  H.  . 

Nottingham 

21 

Farmer     . 

14,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Bowman,  James  s 

Charlestown 

18 

Laborer   . 

Dec.    22,  1863. 

Casey,  John 

Charlestown 

35 

Laborer   . 

22,  1863, 

June      6,  1865. 

Corbin,  Charles  N.11  . 

Charlestown 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Gee,  Samuel  O.5 

AATashington 

37 

Farmer    . 

'Jan.       4,  1864. 

Henderson,  John  12    . 

Deerfield     . 

23 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    12,  186?. 

Knapp,  Charles  II.8  . 

Charlestown 

19 

Salesman 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Lynds,  George  H. 

Charlestown 

18 

Clerk 

12,  1864, 

May     19,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles   . 

Charlestown 

18 

Sailor 

Dec.    22,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Warn,  William  . 

Keene  . 

28 

Shoemaker 

8,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Wetherbee,  Edward  H.     . 

Keene  . 

18 

Clerk       . 

8,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Total     ...      18 

AGGREGATE        .    119 

COMPANY    C. 


Amos  D.  Combs,  Capt.™  . 
Ira  Berry,  iun.,  I  at  Lt.1*   . 

Swanzey 
Keene. 

41 
24 

Farmer    . 
Jeweler   . 

Aug.    27,1862. 
29,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Carroll  D.  Wright,  2d  Lt.z 

Camb'port,  Mass. 

22 

Law-student   . 

Sept.     1,  1862, 

March   6,  1865. 

SERGEANTS. 

Jeremiah  Lyford,  lut 
Daniel  K.  Healey  "   . 

Keene  . 
Swanzey     . 

36 
21 

Mechanic 
Student    . 

Aug.    26,1862, 
12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
Nov.    17,  1865. 

J.  Henry  K.  Jenks  is 

Keene  . 

39 

Shoe-dealer     . 

28,  1862. 

Luther  M.  Parker"  . 

Keene  . 

41 

Teamster 

7,  1862. 

George  H.  Stone  16    . 

Marlborough 

31 

Carpenter 

12,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

George  W.  Nye 

Roxbury 

40 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    12,1862, 

July      8  1865. 

Reuben  II.  Combs*   . 

Winchester 

36 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

8   1865. 

William  Sebastian      . 

Swanzey 

25 

Mechanic 

12,  1862, 

8   1865. 

Charles  H.  Gove  *      . 

Keene. 

25 

Carpenter 

12,  1862, 

8   1865. 

Ceylon  S.  Davis* 

Westport     . 

29 

Farmer     . 

29,  1862, 

8   1865. 

Enoch  Foster 

Marlborough 

43 

Moulder  . 

12,  1862, 

May     30   1865. 

George  W.  B.  Coffee 

S\vanze'T      . 

24 

Tinsmith 

13,  1862, 

July      8   1865. 

George  W.  Felch  16    . 

Fitzwilliam 

24 

Clerk 

24,  1862. 

Tables  ITL,  IV.,  VI.  6  Table  V.  "  Table  VIII.  15  Tr.  U.S.  C.  T.  Aug.  31, 

Tables  II.,  HI.  7  DCS.  Oct.  15,  1862.          "  Des.  Nov.  25,  1863.  1863.     Tables  III.,  VI. 

Tables  II.,  VI.  s  Table  II.    »  Table  VI.  1B  Dismissed  Nov.  14.  '63.  lfi  Tables  III.,  V. 

Table  III.    5  Table  IV.  10  Des.  Nov.  4,  1863.          «  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI.       »  Tables  III.,  IV. 


384 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  C  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

£ 

<5 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

MUSICIANS. 

Adalbert  A.  Houghton 

Keene  . 

16 

Mechanic 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Charles  II.  Barrett  »  . 

Troy    . 

25 

Spinner    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

Eli  W.  Reynolds 

Swanzey     . 

44 

Wagoner 

Aug.    15,  1862, 

Aug.    12,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams.  Alphonso  A. 

Marlborough 

27 

Carpenter 

Aug.    12,1862, 

Oct.       8,  1864. 

Balch,  IVrley  E.2 

Keene  . 

37 

Laborer   . 

13,  1862. 

Barber,  Charles  H. 

Swanzey     . 

20 

Baker       . 

15,  1862, 

April     1,  1863. 

Barber,  Charles  II.,  jun.   . 

West  Swanzey  . 

20 

Laborer   . 

14,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Barber,  John  3    . 

Swanzey     . 

18 

Farmer     . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Barden,  Hiram* 

Keene  . 

25 

Teamster 

27,  1862, 

June    30,  1865. 

Barnes,  Frank  5 

Troy    . 

30 

Farmer     . 

25,  1862. 

Barns,  William  O.     . 

Troy    . 

33 

Laborer   . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

Aug.    18,1865. 

Blodgett,  Edmund  l  . 

Keene  . 

41 

Stone-mason    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

April  25,  1863. 

Bolio,  Theodore  1 

Keene  . 

44 

Laborer   . 

21,  1862, 

Aug.      2,  1864. 

Brennan,  Mitchell  8  . 

Westmoreland   . 

23 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Brooks,  Amos  W.6    . 

Fitzwilliam 

18 

Mechanic 

25,  1862. 

Burbank,  Franklin    . 

Keene  . 

44 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

May       6  1865. 

Burcham,  Joseph  7    . 

Westmoreland  . 

44 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    31,  1862. 

Byam,  Benjamin  W. 

Keene  . 

36 

Mechanic 

16,  1862, 

March  28,  1863. 

Capron,  George  I.1    .        • 

Troy    . 

20 

Nurse 

11,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Carroll,  George  Henry      . 

Keene  . 

26 

Brick-  mason    . 

13  ,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Coates,  Darwin  C. 

Keene. 

35 

Laborer 

26,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Collins,  Perley  E. 

Marlborough 

18 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Collins,  Williams      . 

Marlborough 

33 

Machinist 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Combs,  Carroll  L.8    . 

Winchester 

18 

Farmer    .  . 

9,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Combs,  Roland  M.     . 

Richmond  . 

16 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Combs,  William 

Winchester 

30 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

OummingB,  Joseph  W.8    . 

Keene 

21 

Laborer   . 

27,  1862, 

8,1865. 

])avis,  Amasa     . 

Swanzey 

44 

Carpenter 

22,  1862, 

July      6,  1864. 

Davis,  Isaac  A.  .        . 

Marlborough 

5  5 

Farmer    . 

12,  18(i2, 

May     30,  1865. 

Doollttle,  Edward*  . 

Swanzey 

5  1 

Laborer   . 

13,  1862. 

Dyer,  Simon  5     . 

Westmoreland   . 

39 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Fuller,  Edward  F.     . 

Fitzwilliam         • 

21 

Farmer    .        . 

14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Gallagher,  Frank  8     . 
(Jilmore,  Charles  G.» 

Keene  . 
Swanzey     . 

26 
23 

Cooper     . 
Mechanic 

16,  1862, 
14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Gorman,  Michael 

Keene  . 

25 

Laborer   . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

Oct.     17,  1864. 

Harris,  Daniel  » 

Fitzwilliam 

17 
44 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    21,  1862, 
29   1862. 

July       8,  1865. 
5,  1863. 

Havden,  Thomas  D.  . 

Fitzwilliam 

20 

Farmer    . 

Sept.     I,  1M2, 

8,  1865. 

lla'vnes,  Henry  L.™  . 

A  1  stead 

34 

Farmer     . 

Aug.    20,  1862. 

Healey,  D.  Bralnard* 

Swanzey     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Hill,  Charles  H. 

Keene  . 

31 

Machinist 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

Sept.   26,1864. 

Holbrook,  Henry  D.  . 

Swanzey     . 

23 

Machinist 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Holman,  Ira  B.  . 

Keene  . 

31 

Stone-mason    . 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Ilolman,  Thomas  F.» 

Fitzwilliam 

21 

Farmer    . 

26,  1862. 

Howard,  Ambrose  W. 

Keene  .        . 

23 

Laborer   . 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Leach,  James 

Keene  . 

27 

Mechanic 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Laraby,  Frank  5 

Troy    . 

21 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Mason,  Charles  A.8    . 

Marlborough 

31 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862. 

Mattoon,  Charles  W. 

West  Swanzey  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    26,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Mattoon,  Samuel 

West  Swanzey  . 

44 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

May     18,  1865. 

Morse,  Ansil  A. 

Gilsum 

18 

Farmer     . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Nash,  Horace  H. 

Gilsum 

28 

Laborer   . 

1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Osborn,  Daniel  P.1    . 

Fitzwilliam 

43 

Teamster 

Aug.    30,  1862, 

May     23,  1863. 

Parker,  John  A. 

Keene  . 

37 

Shoemaker 

28,  1862, 

June    15,  1865. 

Philbrick,  Charles  W. 

Troy    . 

18 

Laborer   . 

11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Pope,  Theodore 

Marlborough 

27 

Cordwainer     . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

Oct.     18,  1864. 

Ram*d<>ll,  Joseph  II. 

Fitzwilliam 

43 

Farmer     . 

Aug.    26,  1862, 

8,  1863. 

Richardson,  Delevan  C.8  . 

Marlborough 

20 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Rust,  Nathaniel  P.12  . 

Marlborough 

38 

Carpenter 

12,  1862. 

Sh.ittuck,  Frank 

Troy    . 

38 

Brick-maker   . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

SlyhVld,  Daniel  1        . 

Keene  . 

18 
26 

Mechanic 
Laborer 

26,  1862, 
18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

1  Table  VIII. 

2  Tr.  V.R.C.  Aug.  30, '64. 

Table  VIII. 
»  Table  IU. 


*  Tr.  V.R.C.  Mar.  15, '65. 

Table  VIII. 
B  Deserted  Jan.  14,  '63. 
e  Table  IV. 


•?  Tr.  Co.  A,  April  2, '63. 
8  Table  VI. 
'•>  Tables  VI.,  VIII. 
10  Table  V. 


11  Tables  III.,  IV. 

12  Tables  III.,  V. 
"  Table  II. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


385 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  C  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

1 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Smith,  William  . 

Keene  .        . 

22 

Mechanic 

Aug.    26,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Somell,  Marsells1 

Hopkinton  . 

44 

Laborer   . 

Sept.      1,  1862. 

Spaulding,  Dauphin2 

Keene  . 

35 

Carpenter 

Aug.    18,  1862. 

Starkey,  Horace  B.    . 

Swanzey 

19 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

Feb.       6,  1865. 

Stephenaon,  Charles  E.     . 

Swanzey 

18 

Laborer  . 

22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Stockwell,  George  H.2 
Stone,  Seamon  A.3     . 

Marlborough 
Swanzey 

18 
20 

Carpenter 
Farmer    .        . 

12,  1862. 
14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Stone,  Stillman  S.*     . 

Fitzwilliam 

20 

Laborer  . 

30,  1862, 

June     1,  1865. 

Stone,  William  W.    . 

Keene  . 

26 

Hostler    . 

18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Tliatcher,  Willard  E.*       . 

Swanzey     . 

26 

Painter    . 

15,  1862. 

Thayer,  John  S.5 

Swanzey     . 

39 

Tailor 

20,  1862, 

May     13,  1865. 

Thomas,  Dexter  H.B  . 

Swanzey     . 

19 

Nurse 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Thompson,  Cyrus  II.5 

Keene  . 

42 

Mechanic 

28,  1862, 

May       4,  1863. 

Tolman,  Sidney 
Totten,  Christopher  . 

Troy    . 
Marlborough 

18 
29 

Cook 
Stone-cutter    . 

15,  1862, 
12,  1862, 

July     20,  1863. 
8,  1865. 

Totten,  James    . 

Keene  . 

33 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Walton,  Robert2 

Fitzwilliam 

27 

Mechanic 

30,  1862. 

Ward,  Harrison  R.e  . 

Swanzey     . 

26 

Mechanic 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wheelock,  Lincoln  s  . 

Swanzey     . 

43 

Laborer  . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Whitcomb,  Darius  HJ      . 

Fitzwilliam 

23 

Mechanic 

30,  1862, 

May     27,  1865. 

Whitcomb,  Wright  8. 

Fitzwilliam 

23 

Mechanic 

25,  1862, 

Sept.    21,  1865. 

Wilbur,  Chandler  a    . 

Wai  pole      . 

18 

Shoemaker 

18,  1862, 

May     23,  1863. 

Wilcox,  Henry  E.2     . 

Gilsum 

27 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862. 

Total    .        .        .101 

RECRUITS. 

Boyd,  James10  . 

_           _ 

23 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Burgess,  William  J.  . 

New  Durham     . 

35 

Sailor 

14,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Colado,  Joakin11 

Rochester   . 

24 

Sailor 

14,  1863. 

Conner,  James  . 

Peterborough 

34 

Operative 

5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Conway,  Joseph10     . 

Dover  . 

26 

Sailor 

14,  1863. 

Davis,  John  12     . 

Rochester 

28 

Lumberman    . 

14,  1863. 

Diven,  Francis13 

Milford 

40 

Sailor       . 

1,  1864. 

Dyer,  Lewis  S.  D.1*  . 

Keene  . 

43 

Mason 

Dec.     18,  1863. 

Dyer,  Peter* 

Columbia 

39 

Shoemaker 

Jan.       5,  1864, 

May    24,  1865. 

Fi'rield,  George  W.    . 

Orford 

22 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     18,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Kingsbury,  Henry     . 

Keene  . 

37 

Spinner    . 

Feb.     16,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Lillie,  Levi  N.2  . 

Fitzwilliam 

22 

Laborer  . 

Dec.    15,  1863. 

Sherman,  Peter  . 

Orford 

30 

Farmer    . 

18,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Spooner,  Lyman* 

Troy    . 

42 

Laborer   . 

29,  1863. 

Stone,  Julius  O. 

Fitzwilliam 

23 

Miller       . 

15,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Total     .        .        .15 

AGGREGATE        .    116 

COMPANY    D. 


Caleb  W.  Tlodgdon,  Gapt.™ 
Stark,  Fellows,  Ixt  Lt.™    . 

Weare 
East  Weare 

34 

22 

Dentist    . 
Student    . 

Aug.    22,1862, 
22,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 
Sept.      4,  1863. 

John  N.  Brown,  2d  Lt.5  . 

Seabrook    . 

36 

Merchant 

20,  1862, 

March  9,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Elbridge  D.  Hadley.ls;!16 

Deering 

20 

Teacher  . 

Aug.    15,1862, 

Dec.    29,  1864. 

John  N.  Bruce  17 

Manchester 

42 

Orna.  painter  . 

14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

John  C.  Perkins  s       . 

Hampton     . 

24 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

Joseph  V.  Bowie  19    . 

Weare 

27 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862, 

June    25,  1865. 

George  N.  Janvrin    . 

Seabrook    . 

22 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Deserted  Jan.  14,  1863.    *  Table  VI.  «•  Deserted  Jan.  31, 1864.  «  Tables  III.,  VI. 

Table  IV.  a  Table  VII.  s  Tr.  V.R.C.  Jan.  19,  '65.  «  Deserted  March  17,  '64.  "  Tables  IT  ,  ITT.,  VI. 
Table  VI.  Tables  III.,  VI.  "  Missing  Oct.  19,  1864.    "  Tables  TIL,  IV. 

Table  VIII.  9  Tr.  to  Co.F,  Nov.  1,  '62.  «  Deserted  Feb.  11, 1864.  ia  Tr.  V.R.C.  Jan.  5,  '65. 

Table  III.  "  Deserted  Nov.  27, 1863.  «  Table  II.  Tables  III.,  VI. 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  D  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

i 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

CORPORALS. 

Humphrey  N.  Gould 
John  VV.  Locke  i 

Weare 

Seabrook     . 

35 
20 

Shoemaker 
Clerk 

Aug.    21,  1862, 
13,  1862, 

July    11   1865. 
8    1865. 

Warren  H.  Muzzey  2 

Weare 

18 

Mechanic 

16,  1862, 

May     20   1865. 

Moses  Wadleigb  3      . 

Weare 

18 

Mechanic 

21,  1862, 

July      8  1865. 

John  L.  Collins  . 

Weare 

37 

Carpenter 

14,  1862, 

Jan.       8   1863. 

Samuel  8.  Pasre  4 

Hampton     . 

19 

Shoemaker 

19,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Charles  W.  Noyes  5  . 

Seabrook     . 

18 

Farmer     . 

12,  1862. 

Josiah  Gove  6     . 

Weare 

20 

Shoemaker 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Addison,  John  2 

Newton 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Beale,  Sumner  6 

Seabrook     . 

33 

Expressman    . 

13,  1862, 

May       2,  1864. 

Beckman,  Francis  C.7 

Seabrook     . 

22 

Shoemaker 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

J  5  lake,  George    . 

Kensington 

31 

Groceryman    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bovd,  Aaron  E.5 

Seabrook     . 

19 

Shoemaker 

Sept.    27,  1862. 

Boyd,  Daniel      . 

Seabrook     . 

19 

Shoemaker 

22,  1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Boyd,  Lewis 
Breed,  Enoch  W.8     . 

Seabrook     . 
Weare 

22 
19 

Seaman    . 
Shoemaker 

11,  1862, 
Aug.    14,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Brocklebank,  George  A.  . 

Deering 

19 

_ 

15,  1862, 

June     8,  1865. 

Brown,  Ira  E.2  . 

Kensington 

40 

Shoemaker 

Sept.    15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Brown,  Webster 

Seabrook 

29 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    29,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bruce,  John  R.9 

Manchester 

20 

Machinist 

June    20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Butler,  Walter  N.      . 

Seabrook    . 

18 

Shoemaker 

Aug.      8,  1862, 

Sept.   17,1863. 

Carr,  Charles  C.5 

Weare 

18 

Factory  Op.     . 

16,  1862. 

Chase,  Derwin  W.10  . 

Weare 

22 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862. 

Chase,  Nathaniel 

Seabrook     . 

19 

Boat-builder    . 

Sept.     3,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Chase,  Stephen  W.    . 

Seabrook     . 

24 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cilley,  Otis  GM  . 

Weare 

32 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Clough,  Oliver  G.4     . 

Deering 

28 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

Sept.      5,  1863. 

Colby,  John  B.c 

Weare 

32 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

July      8,1865. 

Collins,  Augustine  A.3 

Weare 

26 

Carpenter 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Coult,  Stephen  C.8     . 

Auburn 

27 

Shoemaker 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Crane,  Simon  J.4 

Deering 

35 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

Oct.      13,  1863. 

Crane,  Solomon  J.     . 

Deering 

35 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Davis,  Daniel  S. 

So.  Hampton 

23 

Shoemaker 

Sept.    29,  1862, 

30,  1863. 

Day,  Henry  C.e  . 

Weare 

31 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    18,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Day,  James  G.4. 

Weare 

44 

Shoemaker 

21,  1862, 

Sept.    21,  1864. 

Dow,  Alfred  B.4 

Seabrook     . 

32 

Shoemaker 

Oct.        1,  18(52, 

July       8,  1865. 

Dow,  Simeon  L. 

Seabrook     . 

18 

Shoemaker 

Sept.    29,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Eastman,  Morrills 

Seabrook     . 

24 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    15,  1862, 

28,1863. 

Eaton,  Robert  C. 

Seabrook    . 

25 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1  865. 

Ellsworth,  Joseph  H. 

Weare 

34 

Mechanic 

20,  1862, 

5,  1865. 

Emery,  Parker  A. 

Hampton    . 

20 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    15,  1862, 

18,  1865. 

Emery,  Warren  II.11 

Weare 

24 

Mechanic 

Aug.    14,  1862. 

Favor,  Nelson  II. 

Weare 

18 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Foster,  James  F.11 

Seabrook     . 

18 

Cordwainer     . 

12,  1862. 

Gillispie,  James  A.12 

Hampton     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

7,  1865. 

Godfrey,  Jacob  T.     . 

Hampton 

20 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Godfrey,  Oliver  H.    . 

Hampton     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gove,  Albert 

Seabrook     . 

38 

Farmer     . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Haladay,  George  E.6 

Weare 

20 

Farmer    . 

26,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hamilton,  William  L.13     . 

Weare 

20 

Mechanic 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hastings,  Charles  3    . 

Seabrook     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

Oct.        3,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Heffron,  Patrick 

Hampton     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Sept.   15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hodgdon,  George  W.4 

Kensington 

39 

Music-teacher, 

Oct.      16,  1862, 

Sept.     7,  1864. 

Hodgdon,  William  H.8     . 

Kensington 

42 

Painter    . 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

July       5,  1865. 

Homan,  Charles  L.5  . 

Weare 

18 

Fanner    .        . 

22,  1862. 

Janvrin,  John  S.14 

Seabrook     . 

28 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

June    28,  1865. 

Janvrin,  Joshua  1S      .        . 

Seabrook     . 

20 

Seaman    . 

Sept.    11,1862, 

•            28,  1865. 

Jones,  Eliphalet  6 

Weare 

34 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Jones,  Joseph  P.18     . 

Seabrook     . 

22 

Shoemaker 

Sept.      3,  1862. 

Jones,  Sylvester  1X     . 

Keene  . 

44 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    12,  1862. 

Kimball,  Charles  B.  . 

Seabrook     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Leavett,  Jeremiah  K. 

Kensington 

44 

Hatter      . 

Sept.   15,  1862, 

Oct.      17,  1864. 

Leonard,  James 

Gilmanton  . 

44 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

Sept.    24,  1864. 

1  Tables  II.,  III.  1  Tables  HI.,  VII. 

2  Table  VI.    s  Table  III.  •  Tables  II.,  VI. 

4  Table  VIII.  •  Tr.  Co.  C.  Jan.  1,  '64. 

B  Table  V.    e  Table  II.    w  Tables  III.,  V. 


Table  IV.  14  Tr.  V.R.C.  Jan.  26,  '65' 

Tr.  V.R.C.  Apr.  17,  '65.         Table  VI. 

Table  VI.  15  Tr.  V.R.C.  Oct.  18,  '64. 

Tables  VI.,  VIII.          "  Deserted  Oct.  11,  '62. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


387 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  D  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

§> 
<J 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

March,  George  W.     . 

Danville      . 

22 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    20,  1862, 

Nov.    20,1863. 

Marston,  Melbourne  l 

Hampton     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

Marston,  Otis  H. 
Mayo,  Joseph  2  . 
McCorraiok,  Bernard  ' 

Hampton     . 
Weare 
Seabrook     . 

18 

40 
44 

Farmer    . 
Carriage  mfr.  . 
Laborer   . 

19,  1862, 
15,  1862, 
15,  1802, 

July      8,  1865. 
May       2,  1865. 
Feb.       5,  1863. 

McKellips,  Harvey  J. 
Moffitt,  Frank  T.*      . 

Weare 
Seabrook     . 

19 

20 

Farmer    . 
Hotel-clerk 

14,  1862, 
15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Moore,  Cassimiro  M.1 

Weare 

18 

Farmer    .        . 

26,  1862. 

Morrili,  Frank  P.5      . 

Weare 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Morrill,  James  2 

Weare 

32 

Shoemaker 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Osborne,  Jesse  B.8    .        . 

Weare 

21 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Pea.sley,  Edwin  N".    . 

Weare 

28 

Farmer    . 

27,  1862, 

Dec.    20,  1863. 

Peacock,  Hyla  D.      . 

Kensington 

34 

Cordwainer     . 

14,  1862, 

July      6,  1865. 

Randall,  John  E.s      . 

Seabrook     . 

24 

Shoemaker 

27,  1862. 

Kowell,  Amos  3  . 
Schotield,  James  3      . 

Kensington 
Weare 

25 
27 

Photographer  . 
Shoemaker 

Sept.    13,  1862, 
Aug.    13,  1862, 

5,  1865. 
May     18,  1865. 

Selley,  Robert  M.  W.»       . 

Deering       .        . 

22 

Butcher   . 

15,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Stott,  Charles 

Seabrook    . 

44 

Weaver    . 

Sept.    26,  1862, 

Oct.     16,  1862. 

Swett,  George  W.2    . 

Seabrook    . 

18 

Clerk 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

June    11,1865. 

Terrill,  Benjamin  F.* 

Weare 

27 

Farmer    . 

16,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Thurstou,  Peleg  B.7  . 

Weare 

27 

Mechanic 

15,  1862, 

7,  1865. 

Thompson,  Samuel  E. 
Titcomb,  Henry  H.8  . 

Deering 
East  Kingston    . 

21 
18 

Mechanic 
Clerk 

15,  1862, 
21,  1862, 

June    17,  1865. 
July      8,  1865. 

Walch,  Michael  » 

North  Hampton, 

21 

Laborer   . 

25,  1862. 

Wallace,  Silas  U. 

Manchester 

16 

Mill-hand 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Walton,  Edwin  * 

Seabrook 

37 

Yeoman  . 

Oct.       1,  1862. 

White,  Philander  C.° 

Concord,  N.H.   . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wiggin,  Thomas  J.10 

Manchester 

26 

Painter     . 

7,  1862, 

June    26,  1865. 

Wiliard,  George  S.a  . 

Weare 

22 

Mechanic 

15,  1862, 

22,  1865. 

Wilson,  Stephen  M.n 

Manchester 

36 

Brush-maker  . 

18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Wright,  James  A. 

Seabrook     . 

22 

Fisherman 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Total    .        .        .102 

RECRUITS. 

Brockway,  Hollis  C. 

Bradford     . 

34 

Farmer    . 

Feb.      8,  1865, 

July      8,  1865. 

Brucklebank,  John  A.5     . 

Newbury    . 

19 

Farmer    . 

Aug.      1,  1864. 

Burdell,  William  H.  . 

_           _ 

_ 

_           _ 

_           — 

Chapin,  Charles  A.    . 

Keene  . 

21 

Mechanic 

March   1,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Choate,  John  5    . 

Bradford     . 

23 

Laborer  . 

Feb.       8,  1865. 

Clark,  Frank  J.3 

Bradford     . 

23 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,  1863, 

March  31,  1864. 

Eaton,  A  oner  L. 

Seabrook    . 

21 

Shoemaker 

Jan.     18,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Hardy,  Charles  H.     . 

Keene  . 

20 

Laborer  . 

March   1,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Hayes,  Joseph  B. 

Keene  . 

21 

Mechanic 

9,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Howard,  George  A.5. 

Keene  . 

20 

Mechanic 

9,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Janvrin,  William  T.s 

Seabrook    . 

19 

Shoemaker 

15,  1864. 

Jewell,  Daniel12 

Whitefield  . 

22 

_           _ 

9,  1865. 

Marston,  William  W. 

Keene  . 

29 

Teamster 

1,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Mills,  James  T.s 

Concord 

23 

Oct.      13,  1862. 

O'Brien,  John     . 

Keene  . 

20 

Laborer   . 

Feb.       8,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Randall,  William  H. 

Seabrook     . 

19 

Shoemaker 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Scriarnan,  Frank 

Grafton 

18 

Laborer   . 

July    30,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Souther,  George  T.1  . 

Seabrook     . 

20 

_ 

Jan.       2,  1864. 

Whitney,  Leonard  F. 

Keene  . 

18 

Mechanic 

March  9,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Total     ...      19 

AGGREGATE        .    121 

1  Table  V. 

2  Tables  IT.,  VI. 
s  Table  VIII. 


«  Table  IT. 
5  Table  IV. 
e  Table  VI. 


7  Table  VII. 

8  Tables  III.,  VIII. 

»  Deserted  Oct.  2,  1862. 


10  Tables  II.,  III. 

11  Tables  HI.,  VI. 

12  Deserted  May  6,  1865. 


388 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    E. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

8, 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Freedom  M.  Rhodes,  Capt.'1 

Lancaster    . 

24 

Sept.    23,  1862, 

July    23,  1863. 

William  Cobleigh,  l*t  Lt.* 

Northumberland, 

24 

Student    . 

Aug.    31,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

JohnE.  Willis,  ZdLt.i      . 

Gorham 

35 

Watchman 

14,  1862, 

Sept.   16,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Franklin  Wheeler,  1st*     . 

Milan  . 

30 

Mechanic 

Aug.    15,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Hiram  J.  Rounds  3     . 

Lancaster    . 

30 

Engraver 

22,1862. 

John  A.  Harriman  4  . 

Dalton 

40 

Merchant 

20,  1862. 

Lewis  P.  Summers5  . 

Lancaster    . 

24 

Farmer    .        . 

12,1862. 

Walter  Buck  °    . 

Dalton 

26 

Teamster 

22,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

Thomas  J.  Lary« 

Milan  . 

30 

River  man 

Aug.    20,1862, 

May     18,  1865. 

Isaac  R.  Smith  5 

Stark  .        .'      . 

25 

Fanner     . 

22,  1862. 

David  S.  Harvey7 

Gorham 

35 

Machinist 

16,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

LelandB.  Philbrook" 

Slielburne  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

William  A.  Willis  «    . 

Milan  . 

39 

Fanner    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

George  W.  Purrington 

Dummer 

38 

Farmer    .        . 

16,  1862, 

June     8,  1865. 

Orwando  Lary  8 

Milan  . 

39 

Miller       . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Theodore  Moran9 

Milan  . 

28 

Joiner 

16,  1862. 

MUSICIAN. 

George  R.  Holmes     . 

Jefferson     . 

20 

Miller       .        . 

Sept.     2,  1862, 

Dec.    10,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Abel  H.  Wesson 

Lancaster   . 

29 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    12,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Applebee,  George 

Jefferson     . 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Ball,  Emery,  M.D.     . 

Dalton 

18 

Fanner     . 

25,  1862, 

May     24,  1865. 

Bartlett,  George  S.7  . 

Dummer     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Boutwell,  Frank 

Lancaster    . 

25 

Laborer  . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Brackett,  Oliver  10      . 

Milan  . 

19 

Farmer    . 

15,1862. 

Brooks,  Joseph  n 

Northumberland, 

21 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Brown,  Harvey  R.5   . 

Stratford     . 

25 

Farmer    . 

7,  1862. 

Colby,  Moses  12. 

Lancaster   . 

38 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cotton,  Aaron     .        .        . 

Milan  . 

32 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862, 

Oct.       4,  1865. 

Crawford,  Bryant  E.7 

Dalton 

24 

Farmer 

13,  1862, 

June      7,  1865. 

Curtis,  Moses  S.i2 

Milan  . 

28 

Lumberman    . 

22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Cushman,  Horace,  2d  5 

Dalton 

29 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862. 

Day,  John  G.1    . 

Gorham 

35 

Farmer    . 

18,1862, 

June    16,  1865. 

Dow,  Aldin  A.7. 

Lancaster   . 

22 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Eastman,  Darius  G.7 

Milan  . 

16 

Farmer     . 

13,  1862, 

May     24,  1865. 

Elllngwood,  Oscar  P.13     . 

Gorham 

33 

Cabinet-maker, 

21,  1862, 

July     11,  1865. 

Elliott,  Marquis  L.u  . 

Dalton 

34 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Emery,  Nathaniel 

Stark  . 

29 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Evans,  Edwin  F.7 

Milan  . 

24 

Lumberman    . 

]:!,  ]S(V2, 

8,  1865. 

Evans,  William  . 

Milan  . 

43 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      3,  1862. 

Folsorn,  Stephen  P.»  . 

Colebrook  . 

28 

Blacksmith      . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

26,  1865. 

Forbes,  Erastus  W.1* 

Bow     . 

18 

Farmer     . 

Sept.    20,  1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Ford,  George  W.1      . 

Dalton 

44 

Farmer     . 

Aug.    12,1862, 

Aug.      3,  1863. 

Gaskill,  Almon  P.w  . 

Dalton 

18 

Blacksmith 

25,  1862. 

Gaskill,  Rufus  D.      . 

Dalton 

40 

Blacksmith 

19,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Goodnow,  Henry  8    . 

Gorham 

28 

Currier     . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gray,  Jared  7 

Jefferson     . 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gray,  Joseph  M.B 

Lan  caster    . 

18 

Laborer   . 

13,  1862. 

Greenlaw,  John  "NV.  .        . 

Milan  . 

25 

Merchant 

15,  1862, 

May     29,  1863. 

Griffin,  Daniel  is 

Gorham       .        . 

45 

Laborer  . 

9,  1862, 

Nov.    22,  1863. 

Hawkins,  Thomas  A.16     . 

Dummer     . 

26 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Henson   Charles         •        • 

Stark  . 

30 

22,  1862, 

July      8,1865. 

Heneon,  Moses  . 

Stark   . 

22 

_           _ 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hicks,  Hiram  G."      . 

Jefferson     . 

20 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862. 

Holbrook,  Roswell  12 

Stratford     . 

22 

Fanner    .        . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Holbrook,  William  W.     . 

Stark  . 

27 

Laborer   . 

22,  1862, 

5,  1865. 

i  Table  VIII.  6  Tables  III.,  VI.  ll  Deserted  Oct.  1,  1862.   "  Re-enl.  12th  Me.  Vols. 

"Tables  II.,  III.  7  Table  III.  12  Table  VI.  »  Tables  III  ,  V. 

»  Tables  III.,  IV.,  VII.    •  Table  II.  "  Tr.  V.R.C.  Sept.  9,  '63.  "  Deserted  Nov.  22,  1864. 

«Tr.V.R.C.Aug.lO,'64.  »  Tr.  V.K.C.  Sept.  22, '63.  "In  the  4th   U.S.  Cav. 

6  Table  IV.  "  Deserted  Jan.  11,  1863.        Oct.  15,  '66-Oct.  15,  71. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


389 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  E  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

S, 
< 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PlUVATES. 

Hodge,  Ida  A.    . 

Lancaster   . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    13,1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Hubbard,  James  O.   . 

Dalton 

29 

Laborer  . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Ingerson,  George  W. 

Jefferson     . 

20 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Jarvis,  Edward1 

Lancaster   . 

21 

Laborer   . 

Sept.     9,  1862. 

Jarvis,  William2 

Lancaster   . 

23 

Laborer   . 

9,  1862 

Johnson,  William  W.»      . 

Stratford     . 

25 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    17,  1862 

Nov.      28,  1863. 

Jordon,  Harry  W.     . 

Berlin. 

25 

Farmer    . 

12.  1862 

July        8,  1865. 

Jordon,  Thomas  J.4  . 

Berlin  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862 

Aug.        7,  1863. 

Knight,  Calvin  J.*     . 

Jefferson    . 

34 

Farmer    . 

29,  1862 

July        8,  1865. 

Lane,  Henry  A.* 

Whitefield  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

Oct.       24,  1864. 

Laury,  Andrew  J.5    . 

Milan  . 

21 

Lumberman    . 

12,  1862, 

May      18,  1865. 

Laury,  Eldolph  . 

Milan  . 

31 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      5,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Lindsey,  George  II.2 

Whitefield  . 

18 

Farmer    .        . 

Aug.    22,  1862. 

Lovejoy.  John  B.3 

Dummer     . 

23 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

Oct.       20,  1864. 

Limn,  William  M.2    . 

Stark  . 

31 

Farmer    .        . 

22,  1862. 

Marshall,  Freeman    . 

Dalton 

18 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

M  assure,  Erastus3     . 

Stark  . 

21 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Massure,  Jonas2 

Stark  . 

39 

Farmer     . 

21,  1862. 

McFarland,  Loring  6  . 

Northumberland, 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Morse,  Ueorge  W.7   . 

Dalton 

26 

Laborer   . 

19,  1862. 

Morse,  John 

Dalton 

18 

Farmer 

Sept.      5,  1862, 

June       6,  1864. 

Moulton,  Benjamin  F. 

Lancaster    . 

36 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    11,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Nutter,  Charles  E.     . 

Lancaster    . 

18 

Laborer  . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Orcutt,  John  I).8 

Jefferson 

17 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

27,  1865. 

Ordway,  Daniel 

Jefferson     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      8,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Page,  Henry  °     . 

Milan  . 

°9 

Lumberman    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Potter,  Daniel  *  . 

Stark  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Mil  -in 

44 

15,  1862. 

Quint,  George  C.2      . 

Whitefield  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

22*.  1862. 

Rich,  Spaulding  S.     . 
Richardson,  Lemuel  M.    . 

Lancaster    . 
Milan  . 

31 
21 

Teamster 
Farmer     . 

22,  1862, 
12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Robbing,  Daniel  S.1"  . 

Stark  . 

24 

Laborer   . 

13,  1862. 

Rovve,  James  M. 

Gorham 

29 

Harnessmaker, 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Sessions,  Sumner 

Dummer     .    .    . 

20 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Sherwood,  William11 

Lancaster   . 

44 

Laborer   . 

18,  1862, 

14,  1865. 

Stalbird,  William  H.  H.   . 

Jefferson     . 

19 

Farmer 

12,  1862, 

Dec.      21,1864. 

Btillings,  Ruel  P.       . 

Jefferson     . 

24 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Stone,  Munroe  J.3 

Stark  . 

21 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Twitchell,  Claudius  A.2    . 

Milan  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      3,  1862. 

Veasie,  John  2    . 

Dummer 

43 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    15,  1862. 

Wallace,  Asahel  K.3  . 

Dalton 

43 

Farmer 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Webb,  George  F.*      . 

Gorham 

29 

Farmer     . 

Sept.     1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wheeler,  Algier  B.   . 

Stratford     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.      7,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wilder,  Edward  B.2  . 

Lancaster    . 

21 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862. 

York,  Horace  12  . 

Milan  . 

26 

Farmer     . 

18,1862, 

June      26,  1865. 

Young,  Antipas 

Stratford     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

7,  1862, 

21,  1865. 

Young,  David    . 
Total     .        .        .101 

Lancaster   . 

23 

Laborer  . 

12,  1862, 

May      15,  1863. 

RECRUITS. 

Armstrong,  Alpheus2 

Hinsdale     . 

38 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     15,  1863. 

Bean,  Caleb  F.8. 

Dummer     . 

34 

Farmer    . 

29,  1863, 

July        8,  1865. 

Blair,  William    . 

Lancaster    . 

16 

Farmer     . 

29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Cobleigh,  Charles 

Northumberland, 

28 

Clerk 

25,  1863, 

Feb.        8,  1865. 

Cross,  Alanson  . 

Northumberland, 

19 

Laborer   . 

23,  1863, 

May       18,  1865. 

Delven,  Peter13. 

Portsmouth 

32 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    10,  1863. 

Dolan.John 

21 

Sailor 

20,  1863, 

July        8,  1865. 

Dustin,  Joseph  H. 

_        _ 

27 

Farmer     . 

Dec.     15,      - 

•8,  1865. 

Elliott,  Benjamin  F.1* 

Littleton      . 

35 

Farmer    . 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Evans,  John  C.2 

Milan  . 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Fox,  Benjamin  1B        .        . 

Barrington  . 

26 

Teamster 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Goud,  George  S.3 

Milan  . 

18 

Millman  . 

Dec.     29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Han  ford,  Edward  «  . 

Milan  . 

25 

Painter    . 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Hastings,  John  G.     .        . 

Keene  . 

32 

Farmer    . 

Jan.     15,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Hawkins,  Alpheus  W. 

Lancaster    . 

Farmer    • 

Dec.     31,  1863, 

June     12,  1864. 

Hedrick,  William  H.i?      . 

Rochester   . 

29 

Sailor 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

1  DCS.  Nov.  22,  1863.         e  Tables  VI.,  VIII.  ^  Transf.  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  14  Tables  VI.,  VII. 

2  Table  IV.    3  Table  III.  ?  Des.  Oct.  1,  1862.  3,  1864.  Table  VIII.  15  Des.  Nov.  3, 1863. 

4  Table  VIII.  8  Table  VI.    9  Table  II.  »  Tr.V  R.C.  Jan.  25, '65.  «  Des.  Nov.  18,  1863. 

c  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI.      w  Des.  Jan.  11,  1863.  "  i^s.  Dec.  6,  1S63.          "  Des.  March  16,  1864. 


390 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  E  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

& 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

RECRUITS. 

Helsey,  James  * 

_           _ 

23 

Boatman  . 

Aug.    19,1863. 

Henderson,  James2  . 

Somersworth 

28 

Sailor 

14,  1863. 

Henderson,  John 

Alstead 

19 

Sailor 

5,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Hogan,  William  D.«  . 

Farmington 

21 

Sailor       . 

14,  1863, 

June    24,  1865. 

Hopkins,  John  J.4     . 

__           _ 

28 

Peddler    . 

19,  1863. 

Kelley,  John  B    .        .        . 

_           _ 

25 

Laborer   . 

20,  1863. 

Leonard,  Henry  O.    . 

Keene. 

26 

Teacher  . 

Jan.     16,  1865, 

July      8,  1865. 

Lyons,  Patrick  . 

Gilford 

21 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    31,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Mathy,  John  Edward 

Langdon 

30 

Bookbinder     . 

5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Murphy.  James 

Hinsdale      . 

19 

Sailor 

5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Neal,  William  H.       . 

Concord 

24 

_            _ 

19,  1864, 

May       5,  1865. 

Oswold,  Carl  B. 

Berlin  . 

18 

Laborer  . 

Jan.     15,  1865, 

July       8,  1865. 

Pcrham,  Leonard. 

Hinsdale     . 

41 

Miller       . 

Dec.     15,  1863, 

May     30,  1865. 

Pike,  John  D.     . 

Northumberland, 

21 

Laborer   . 

Jan.     12,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Rugg,  Sewall  F.« 

Keene  . 

27 

Tinsmith 

17,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Sabine,  Frank    . 

\Vhitefield  . 

21 

Barber     . 

18,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Seavey,  W.  H.    . 

Dummer 

18 

Laborer   . 

Dec.     29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Terry,  Joseph    . 

East  Kingston    . 

27 

Laborer  . 

July    28,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Twitchell   Charles  M 

Milan 

17 

Farmer 

Dec.     29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Underwood,  Jesse  7  . 

Dalton 

44 

Blacksmith 

29,  1863, 

May     26,  1865. 

Watson,  Pembroke  8. 

Berlin  . 

25 

Miller       . 

Jan.     15,  1865, 

July      8,  1865. 

Wentworth,  Thomas         . 

Lancaster   . 

21 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     31,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Wbipp,  Charles  A.»  . 
Total    .        .        .39 

Northumberland, 

31 

Farmer    . 

23,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

AGGREGATE        .   140 

COMPANY  F. 


Theo.  A.  Ripley,  Capt.9   . 

Winchester 

26 

Straw  goods    . 

Aug.    23,  1862, 

May     15,  1865. 

Stephen  Phelps,  1st  Lt.     . 

Winchester 

38 

Tin  business    . 

23,  1862, 

Jan.     20,  1864. 

Wm.  A.  Fosgate,  2d  Lt™  . 

Winchester 

23 

Student   . 

14,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

John  H.  Goodwin  u  . 

Chesterfield 

29 

Currier    . 

Aug.    18,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

George  G.  Martin  12  . 

Winchester 

25 

Merchant 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Artemus  B.  Colburn  10 

Richmond   . 

29 

Merchant 

20,  1862. 

John  F.  Hunt     .        .        . 

Winchester 

24 

Blacksmith      . 

13,  1862, 

Aug.      4,  1863. 

Henry  H.  Howe 

Chesterfield 

28 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

CORPORALS. 

Henry  F.  Pratt  13 

Winchester 

20 

Student    . 

Aug.    13,1862, 

June    22,1865. 

George  Norwood  14   . 

Winchester 

44 

Farmer    . 

21,186-2. 

Charles  G.  Howard  « 

Winchester 

23 

Mechanic 

18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Milton  G.  Frost  14      . 

Milan  . 

24 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

NovatiiH  Graves 

Winchester 

44 

Mechanic 

19,  180-2, 

8,  1865. 

IT.  Barrett  Fosgate  15 

Winchester 

•24 

Farmer    . 

13,  186-2, 

8,  1865. 

Floras  H.  Wood  1      . 

Winchester 

18 

Farmer     . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hunry  E.  Baldwin     . 

Winchester 

18 

Laborer  . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Calvin  I'.  Gilson 

Chesterfield 

22 

Stage-driver    . 

Aug.    22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Denzel  T.  Swan  14     . 

Winchester 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Charles  O.  Colburn  . 

Winchester 

29 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Moses  10  . 

Richmond  . 

24 

Merchant 

Aug.    20,1862. 

Andrews,  Ethan  A.14 

Milan   . 

32 

Farmer     . 

13,  1862. 

Ball,  Charles  A.  i<>       . 

Winchester 

39 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Ball,  Charles  W.  W. 

Winchester 

16 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

i  Deserted  Nov.  3,  '63.             6  Deserted.                    »  Tables  II.,  III.,  VII.,   12  Tables  II.,  VI. 

2  Deserted  Nov.  4,  '63.            «  Table  II.                              VIII.                            33  Tr.  V.R.C.  Oct.  10,  '64. 

3  Tr.  V.R.C.  Nov.  4,  '64.          '  Table  VILE.               «  Tables  III.,  V.                          Table  VIM. 

«  Deserted  Nov.  6,  '63.            •  Table  VI.                 «  Tables  III.,  VIII.         14  Table  IV.  «  Table  HI. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


391 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  F  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

S, 
<1 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Bancroft,  Clinton  A.  . 

Chesterfield 

15 

farmer    . 

Aug.    27,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Barden,  Abner  S. 

Richmond  . 

30 

farmer     . 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bent,  Lauren  E.1 

Winchester 

20 

farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Blodgett,  James  H.1  . 

Northumberland, 

44 

laborer   . 

27,  1862. 

Bolton,  James  H.2 

Winchester 

17 

farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

June    22,  1865. 

Britton,  Frederick  F.2 

Keene  . 

20 

farmer    . 

Sept.     1,  1862, 

July       5,  1865. 

Brown,  Board  win3    . 

Keene  . 

44 

Dook 

1,  1862, 

Jan.     30,  1864. 

Bu  ffu  m  ,  Jedediah  ,  j  un.3    . 

Winchester 

49 

farmer    . 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

May     16,  1865. 

Bu  ff  urn  ,  Francis  H'.  *  . 

Winchester 

18 

Student    . 

13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Burk,  John  5 

Bow     . 

34 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    15,  1862. 

Casey,  Thomas  . 

Lancaster    . 

44 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cannon,  Patrick6 

Northumberland, 

21 

Laborer   . 

20,  1862. 

Cohen,  Isaac 

Kensington 

21 

3igar-maker    . 

Oct.      10,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cummings,  John 

Northumberland, 

20 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cummings,  William  J.7    . 

Northumberland, 

18 

Laborer   . 

11,  1862, 

June    13,  1865. 

Darlinir,  Calvin  G.     . 

Chesterfield 

36 

Farmer    .      •  . 

20,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Day,  George  A.8 

Hinsdale     . 

42 

Carpenter 

Sept.      1,186-2, 

8,  1865. 

Eaton,  Loren,  jun.     . 

Winchester 

32 

hooper     . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Elliot,  William  R.9    . 

Dalton 

18 

P"armer    . 

Sept.     2,  1862. 

Farr,  Bradford  C.      . 

Chesterfield 

28 

Miller       . 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

Feb.       4,  1863. 

Farr,  Wesley  O.">      . 

Chesterfield 

23 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

July      8.  1865. 

Frost,  Sumner  F. 

Milan  . 

21 

Sailor 

13,  18«2, 

Feb.       5,  1863. 

Hastings,  Foster  W.  . 

Chesterfield 

30 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Hastings,  Herbert  R. 

CHesterfield 

23 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862, 

Aug.    12,  1863. 

Hayes,  Frederick  O.1 

Lancaster    . 

20 

Mechanic 

12,  1862. 

Hayes,  Patrick  3 

Winchester 

25 

Laborer  . 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Henry,  Herbert  W.u 

Chesterfield 

18 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862. 

Hill,  Taylor  E.2 

Chesterfield 

19 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Holbrook,  Charles  H. 

Swanzey     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

May     25,  1865. 

Holbrook,  George  B.12      . 

Swanzey     . 

16 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Howard,  Luther  E.*  . 

Winchester 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,  1862, 

8,  I860. 

Hutchins,  Henry  E.  . 

Winchester 

20 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

Jan.     20,  1863. 

Hyde   Ira  I). 

Stark  . 

51 

Farmer    . 

29,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Lambert,  Perrin2 

Milan  . 

36 

Farmer    . 

29,  1862, 

March  13,  1865. 

Lampson,  Bradford  P.11    . 

Swanzey 

20 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Lincoln,  Lucien  O.    . 

Chesterfield 

23 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Lucas,  Wesley  J  3     . 

Milan  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McClenning,  Henry  J.11    . 

Chesterfield 

20 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862. 

Moore,  John  H. 

Winchester 

21 

Carpenter 

13,  1862, 

June     9,  1865. 

Morey,  William  A.2  . 

Winchester 

16 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Murdock,  Robert  E.  . 

Winchester 

26 

Mechanic 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Murdock,  Verwill,  2d.4     . 

Winchester 

18 

Mechanic 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Newell,  Benjamin,  jun.13  . 

Richmond  . 

43 

Farmer    . 

16,  1862. 

Nims,  George  II.        . 

Winchester 

24 

Tinsmith 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

O'Neil,  Thomas  * 

Northharnpton  . 

24 

Laborer   . 

14,  1862. 

Perry,  George  F.2 

Winchester 

28 

Mechanic 

23,  1862, 

May       3,  1865. 

Pheany,  Andrew 

Northumberland 

25 

Laborer   . 

20,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Pratt,  Charles  s  . 

Winchester 

23 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862. 

Keede,  Charles  P.      . 

Winchester 

50 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

Feb.       7,  1863. 

Koark,  Francis  . 

Winchester 

20 

Mill  operative, 

13,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Scott,  George  D. 

Chesterfield 

20 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Scott,  Walter  A.1 

Richmond  . 

21 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862. 

Sharon,  Lewis  5 

Bow     . 

20 

Laborer   . 

Sept.    16,  1862. 

Smith,  Edward  O.8    .         . 

Winchester 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Snow,  Henry  H. 

Chesterfield 

18 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

May     26,  1863. 

Stoddard,  James  S.1* 

Chesterfield 

22 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Streeter,  Marshall  S.1 

Chesterfield 

20 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862. 

Thayer,  Henry  F.11   . 

Winchester 

44 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862. 

Thompson,  Daniel  II.8 

Winchester 

18 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Ward,  George  P."    . 

West  Swanzey  . 

35 

Wood-turner  . 

17,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Webber,  James  II." 

Milan  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Welles,  Sidney  I. 

Gorham       . 

28 

Farmer    . 

9,  1862, 

Sept.   25,1863. 

Wentworth,  George  A.»  . 

Milan  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Wheeler,  Charles  W."      . 

Keene  . 

18 

Laborer   . 

Sept.     1,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

1  Table  V.  B  Deserted  Oct.  1,  1862.      °  Deserted  March  12,  '64.  «  Tables  III.,  IV. 

2  Table  VI.  c  Deserted  Oct.  20,  1862.  10  Tables  II.,  III.  14  Tables  II.,  III.,  VIII. 
s  Table  VIII.  1  Tables  VI.,  VIII.            n  Table  IV.  15  Tables  II.,  VI. 

*  Tables  111.,  VI.  »  Table  III.  «  Table  II.  16  Tr.  Co.  C.Nov.  1,  '62. 


392 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  F  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

& 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Wilbur,  Henry  L.      . 

Winchester 

26 

Pail  turner 

Aug.    14,  1862, 

Sept.     4,1863. 

"Wilson,  Jesse  1  .        . 

Btodclard     . 

63 

Farmer    . 

1,  1862, 

Oct.     20,  1863. 

Wood,  Henry  A.2      . 

Winchester 

18 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1863. 

Wright,  L.  Warren3 

Richmond  .        . 

20 

Laborer  . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Total    ...     91 

RECRUITS. 

Boyd,  Jeremiah  T.    . 

Seabrook    . 

19 

Shoemaker 

Jan.       9,  1864, 

June    14,1865. 

Clark,  Charles  A. 

Chester       . 

39 

Farmer    . 

2,  1864, 

April  10,  1865. 

Con  ley,  James  Henry 

Durham 

16 

Blacksmith      . 

4,  1864, 

July      8,1865. 

Converse,  Julius  C.   . 

Chesterfield 

19 

Farmer    . 

Dec.    29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Colburn,  Henry 

Winchester 

28 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      2,  1863, 

1,  1864. 

Casey,  John 
Clogley,  John     . 

Lempster    . 
Meredith     . 

29 
29 

Laborer   . 
Laborer  . 

Aug.      2,  1864, 
2,  1864, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Davis,  Frederick  *      . 

Andover 

24 

Laborer  . 

Nov.    18,  1863. 

1  )a  vis,  Murray  5  .        .        . 

Chesterfield 

18 

Farmer    . 

Dec.    29,  1863, 

18,  1865. 

Elliott,  Warren6 

Franklin 

43 

Farmer    . 

Jan.     12,  1864. 

Englebrick,  John 

Seabrook     . 

23 

Sailor 

Aug.      5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Farr,  Chauncey  S.7    . 

Chesterfield 

18 

Sawyer    . 

Dec.     29,  1863, 

26,  1865. 

Fair,  Larkin  D. 

Chesterfield 

18 

Farmer    . 

29,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Field,  Marshall  . 

Pembroke  . 

20 

Boat-packer    . 

July    29,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Harris,  Lorenzo,  jun. 

Richmond  . 

18 

Laborer  .        . 

Aug.      2,  1864, 

June    25,1865. 

Hickcy,  Patrick8 

Dublin 

25 

Laborer  . 

Sept.    26,  1S63. 

Hared,  John 

Dan  bury     . 

20 

Laborer   .        . 

Aug.      2,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Hill,  George        .        .        . 

Lempster    .        . 

20 

Laborer   . 

3,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Johnson,  Henry9 

Barrington  . 

31 

Clerk 

14,  1863. 

Johnson,  Robert8 

Rochester    . 

21 

Sailor 

14,  1863. 

King,  Peter 

Hath     . 

19 

Laborer  . 

2,  1864, 

8,1865. 

Letcher,  Edward1 

Lancaster   . 

19 

Laborer  • 

Sept.    24,  181)3, 

8,  1865. 

Lewis,  Sumner  . 

Rochester  . 

20 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     28,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Locke,  John  8     .        .        . 

_              _ 

38 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Miller,  Henry*  . 

Pembroke  . 

27 

Sailor 

Nov.    23,  1863. 

Miller,  William" 

East  Kingston    . 

25 

Painter     . 

11,  1863. 

McKay,  James   . 

Barrington. 

34 

Fisherman 

Aug.    11,1863, 

Nov.    24,1863. 

Morse,  James  W.8     . 

Rochester   . 

21 

Laborer   . 

14,  1863. 

June     9,  1865. 

McCauley,  William9 

Milton 

22 

Sailor       . 

14,  1863. 

Merrlfldd,  Frank  O.< 

Deerfield     . 

21 

Shoemaker 

12,  1863, 

May     12,  1865. 

Murray,  John  10 

Middleton  . 

22 

Laborer   . 

14,  1863. 

Murio,  Francisco11    . 

Farmington 

23 

Sailor 

14,  1863. 

Moran,  James12 

_               _ 

33 

Sailor       . 

19,  1863. 

Martin,  James    . 

Seabrook     . 

21 

Sailor       . 

5,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Norcross,  George  L.13 

Farmington 

23 

Mechanic 

14,  1863. 

Rosier,  William  «      . 

Rochester   . 

22 

Harnessmaker, 

14,  1863. 

Rourke,  John     . 

Southampton  . 

38 
21 

Laborer   . 

6,  1864, 
6   1864 

8   1865. 
8   1865 

Snell,  David  *     . 

Kindsre 

49 

Farmer    . 

5,'  1864*. 

Tuttle,  John  B.5 

Seabrook    . 

43 

Machinist 

Jan.       9,  1864, 

10   1865. 

Tiboux,  Peter    . 

Gilsum 

20 

Laborer   . 

Aug.      6,  1864, 

8   1865. 

Thayer,  Edward  F.5  . 

Chesterfield 

18 

Brick-mason   . 

July     28,  1864, 

8   1865. 

Wiliingford,  Reuben  C.     . 

Somersworth 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.      2,  1864, 

May     31  1865. 

Total     ...      43 

AGGREGATE        .    134 

1  Table  VITL  E  Table  VI.  8  Deserted  March  18,  '64.  "  Deserted  Jan.  30,  1864. 

2  Tables  III.,  VIII.  •  Deserted  March  12,  '64.  »  Deserted  Nov.  4,  1863.    "  Deserted  March  16,  '64. 
»  Tables  II.,  III.  1  Table  VII.  10  Deserted  Nov.  30,  '63.    «  Deserted  March,  1864. 
«  Deserted  Dec.  31,  1863. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


393 


TABLE  I.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    G. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

So 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

Solon  A.  Carter,  Capt.^     . 

Keene  . 

25 

Gas  superint'd. 

Oct.       9,  1862, 

July      25,  1864. 

C.  Fred  Webster,  Is;!  LtS  . 

Jaffrey 

26 

Lawyer    . 

9,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Spencer  L.  Bailey,  2d  Lt.2 

Jaffrey 

32 

Merchant 

9,  1862, 

Feb.      24,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Flavel  L.  Tolman,  1st1     . 

Rindge 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    13,1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

John  W.  Sturtevant3 

Keene  . 

22 

Clerk 

31,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

James  W.  Russell  1    . 

Keene  . 

27 

Clerk 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Edward  B.  Howard  1 

Alstead 

21 

Farmer    . 

28,  1802, 

May        1,1865. 

Samuel  L.  Gerould  2 

Stoddard     . 

28 

Clergyman 

11,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

CORPORALS. 

Maro  J.  Chamberlain  * 

Dublin 

20 

Student    . 

Aug.      9,  1862, 

Aug.       1,  1863. 

Charles  O.  Cragin5    . 

Dublin 

19 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

John  A.  Woodward  G 

Surry  . 

21 

Clerk 

27,  1862. 

Charles  D.  Emery  1   . 

.laffrey 

20 

Merchant 

14,  1862. 

Calvin  K.  Day    . 

Keene  . 

28 

Butcher   . 

27,  1882, 

8,  1865. 

38 

Ciear-maker    . 

30,  1862, 

June       8,  1865. 

James  H.  Hunt* 

Stoddard     . 

20 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Asa  W.  Davis    . 

Keene  .        . 

36 

Mechanic 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Thomas  S.  Mower2  . 

Jaffrey 

29 

Mechanic 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Austin  A.  Spaulding  8 

Jatfrey 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

June     26,  1865. 

PRIVATES. 

Bahan,  John  9    . 

Dublin 

23 

Dyer 

Aug.    12,1862, 

July     29,  1865. 

Barrett,  William  A.  2 

Keene  . 

36 

Brick-maker    . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bartenback,  Christopher30 

Jaffrey 

29 

Mechanic 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Blodgett,  Sylvester  2 

Keene  . 

40 

Butcher    . 

30,  1862, 

Sept.     16,  1863. 

Brown,  James  T. 

Jaffrey 

22 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Buckwold,  Jacob       . 

Jaffrey 

26 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

Jan.       21,  1S65. 

Burns,  Patrick  . 

Keene. 

38 

Laborer   . 

31,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Carter,  Charles  A."  . 

Jaffrey 

19 

Mechanic 

11,  1862. 

Casey,  John  1(J    . 

Keene  . 

26 

Laborer   . 

31,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cooper,  Albert  . 

Keene  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cutter,  Edwin  R.*     . 

Jaffrey 

21 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Cutter,  Edward  E.     . 

Jaffrey 

21 

Farmer    .        . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Curtin,  David". 

Westmoreland    . 

44 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    23,  1862, 

Dec.      31,1864. 

Doolittle,  JohnH."  . 

Winchester 

29 

Pail-turner 

13,  1862, 

June       5,  1865. 

Doolittle,  Joseph  S." 

Keene  . 

29 

Mechanic 

Aug.    28,  186'J, 

July      27,  1865. 

Drake,  William  S.2    . 

Keene. 

29 

Baker       . 

29,  1862, 

Nov.      23,  1863. 

Ellis,  Lyman  2    . 

Keene  . 

31 

Mechanic 

Oct.        2,  1862, 

May      26,  1865. 

Evans,  Frank,  iun.B  . 

Keene. 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    30,  1862. 

Farwell,  John  T. 

Dublin 

20 

Mechanic 

21,1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Frost,  John  2 

Jaffrey 

43 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

June     12,  1865. 

Gerry,  Ira  .... 

Stoddard     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Green,  James  8  . 

Stoddard     . 

23 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

May      16,  1865. 

Hardy,  Sanford  S.14  . 

Dublin 

19 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

July      24,  1865. 

Hatch,  Herbert  C.15'. 

Alstead 

18 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Hazen,  Edson  8."      . 

Dublin 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

7,  1865. 

Hazen,  George  W.10. 

Dublin 

23 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Houston,  J.  Augustine2    . 

Keene  . 

29 

Mechanic 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Jerry,  Amiell  8  . 

Dublin 

Mechanic 

20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Jillson,  Almon  L.17   . 

Keene  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    25,  1862, 

6,  1865. 

Kinson,  John  Q. 

Stoddard     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Law,  Charles  D.4 

Jaffrey 

29 

Shoemaker 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Learned,  Lewis  D.16  . 

Dublin 

20 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862 

Learned,  Marion  D.  * 

Dublin 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Leathers,  John  5 

Jaffrey 

21 

Laborer   . 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Lettcnmayer,  Otto  2  . 

Keene  . 

30 

Confectioner   . 

30,  1862, 

Oct.       15,  1863. 

Lewis,  William  H.«. 

Keene. 

29 

Painter    .        . 

29,  1862, 

May      12,  1865. 

Lowe,  George  F.° 

Jaffrey 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

July        8,  1865. 

Tables  II.,  III. 
Table  II. 

Tables  IT.,  III.,  VI. 
Table  III. 
Tables  ILL,  VIII. 


6  Table  IV.  "  Table  V.  1K  Tables  HI.,  V. 

i  Tables  TIL,  IV.  12  Tr.V.  R.  C.  Aug.10,'64.  «  Tr.  V.  R.  C.  Aug.  6, 

8  Table  VI.  1:!  Tables  II.,  VI.  1864.     Table  1 1. 

»  Tr.V.R.C.  Jan.  10  '65.  »  Tables  VI.,  VIII.  «  Tables  111.,  VIII. 

10  Table  VIII.  «  Tables  II.,  VI. 


394 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  G  —  Continued. 


•  NAME. 

Residence. 

& 

<5 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Martin,  Alvin  K. 

Jaffrey 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Marvin,  Edwin  * 

Keene. 

21 

Mechanic 

Sept.      3,  1862. 

Mcrrificld,  Charles  B.2 

Jaffrey 

19 

Painter     . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Morey,  Albert  L.a      . 

Dublin 

28 

Mechanic 

9,  1862, 

April  10,  1865. 

Morse,  Henry  K. 

Jaffrey 

25 

Painter     . 

13,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Mower,  Xahum  W.4  . 

Jaffrey 

34 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Murdough,  Samuel  C.5 

Stoddard 

26 

Laborer   . 

12,  1862. 

Osborne,  Henry  E.    . 

Jaft'rey 

32 

Farmer    .        . 

11,  1862, 

May     13,  1863. 

Parker,  Lucius  ° 

Nelson 

36 

Laborer   . 

30,  1862. 

Parker,  William  H.f  . 

Keene  . 

18 

Brakeman 

Sept.      4,  1S62, 

April  23,  1865. 

Pettes,  James  E.8 

Jaffrey 

27 

Mechanic 

Aug.    22,  1862, 

June      2,1863. 

Phillips,  John  J  . 

Dublin 

29 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Pierce,  Albert  S.9 

Jaffrey 

17 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Pollard,  Ivers  E.10     . 

Jaffrey 

19 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

May     12,  1865. 

Poole,  Joel  II.  a 

Jaffrey 

20 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Prescott,  Oren  D.11    . 

Jaffrey 

19 

Fai  mer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Putnam,  Edwin  F.12  . 

Keene  . 

31 

Shoemaker 

28,  1862, 

June    30,  1865. 

Rand,  Leonard  * 

Jaffrey 

18 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862. 

Reed,  J.  Langdon  2   . 

Btoddard 

19 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Rice,  John  C.2    . 

Jaffrey 

23 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Richardson,  George  W.8 

Jaffrey 

44 

Farmer    . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Richardson,  Herbert  C.2 

Jaffrey 

17 

Farmer     . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Riley,  Martin      . 

Keene  . 

23 

Laborer   . 

31,  1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Rilev,  Michael" 

Keene  . 

31 

Laborer   . 

31,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Robbins,  Alfred  J.8  . 

Jaffrey 

25 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

April  10,  1865. 

Robb,  William  P.*     . 

Dublin 

25 

Mechanic 

14,  1862, 

Oct.        5,  1863. 

Rolfe,  William  Il.'s  . 

Jaffrey 

20 

Mechanic 

14,  1862, 

July       7,  1865. 

Roylemh,  Peter  W.  . 

Stoddard 

38 

Laborer   . 

11,  1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Ryan,  John  t4     . 

Keene  . 

25 

Cooper     . 

12,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Scott.  James  II.* 

Stoddard     . 

39 

Butcher   . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Shedd,  Granville  2     . 

Jaffrey 

27 

Butcher  . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Smith,  Henry  A.1 

Jaffrey 

21 

22 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862. 
30,  1862. 

O(l      1  QfV> 

8  1865. 

Smith,  Marcus  Morton  *    . 
Smith,  Royal  W."»     . 

Keene. 

26 

Mechanic 

zy,  ioo.i, 
29,  1862, 

June      5'  1865.' 

Spaulding,  Leonard  E. 

Jaffrey 

22 

Farmer 

11,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Steck,  Frederick 

Keene. 

30 

Cooper 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Sumner,  David  8 

Keene. 

44 

Farmer 

30,  1862, 

21,  1863. 

Turner,  Henry  A.2    . 

Jaffrey 

21 

Butcher 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Webber,  Conrad  15    . 

Stoddard     . 

44 

Laborer 

11,  1862. 

Wellman,  Israel  P.    . 

Stoddard     . 

31 

Farmer 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Willard,  Lucius  S.*  . 

Keene  . 

19 

Clerk 

28,  1862, 

June    28,  1865. 

Total     ...      97 

RECRUITS. 

Allen,  Calvin,.  iun>   . 

Keene. 

27 

Farmer    . 

Dec.       8,  1863, 
8,  1863, 

July       8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Craisr,  Allen  A.8 

Keene  . 

43 

Farmer    . 

26,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Doolittle,  William  A. 

Winchester 

37 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      4,  1863, 

June    27,  1865. 

Greenwood,  Leroy  P.* 

Peterborough 

25 

Laborer   . 

Dec.       2,  1863, 

July       8,  1865. 

Hill,  Horace  J.*. 

Keene  . 

21 

Mechanic 

8,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Hurd,  Cyrus  8     . 

Keene  . 

41 

Blacksmith      . 

12,  1863, 

Sept.    20,  1864. 

Kelleher,  Timothy  le 

Keene  . 

40 

Laborer   . 

8,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Lavoy,  Henry  E. 

Keene  .        . 

17 

Laborer   . 

12,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

O'Brien,  William  D. 

Keene  . 

20 

Laborer   . 

8,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Poole,  John  W. 

Jaffrey 

17 

Farmer 

17,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Riley,  John  "... 

Sullivan 

32 

Coppersmith   . 

Sept.   24,  1863. 

Shepherd,  Frank  B.  . 

Winchester 

23 

Carriage-maker 

Dec.     24,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles  L."    . 

Charlestown 

23 

Sailor 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Smith.  Samuel  M.2     . 

Keene  . 

29 

Lawyer    . 

Dec.     18,  1863, 

March  16,  1864. 

Sullivan,  J.  Kerry  18 

Keene  . 

18 

Laborer   . 

8,  1863, 

Aug.    19,  1865. 

Sullivan,  Patrick  19    . 

Somersworth 

30 

Laborer   . 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Sumner,  George  19     . 

Dublin 

21 

Painter     . 

Sept.   25,  1863. 

i  Table  IV.    2  Table  III.  «  Table  V.  »  Tables  III.,  VIII.          16  Tables  VI.,  VII. 

s  Tables  II.,  VI.  7  Tr.  V.R  C.  July  1,  '64.  i2  Tr.  V.R.C.  Jan.  1,  '65.  "  Deserted  Feb.  25,  '64. 

4  Table  II.  8  Table  VIII.  »  Tr. V.R.C.  Sept.30,  '64.  18  Tables  III.,  VII. 

Tr.  V.R.C.  Sept.30,  '64,  9  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI.       14  Tables  II.,  VIII.  19  Deserted  Nov.  4,  '63. 

ri'~-ui,.  TT  10  'I'oKio  \rr  15  Tables  IV.,  VII. 


Table  II. 


10  Table  VI. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 
TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  G — Continued. 


395 


NAME. 

Residence. 

o 
so 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

RECRUITS. 
Von  Camp,  Nathan1. 
Williams,  John  l 
Wright,  Daniel  2 
Total    .        .        .21 

Barrington  . 
Somersworth 
Keene  . 

24 

25 
33 

Carpenter 
Bailor 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1803. 
14,  1863. 
Dec.     26,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

AGGREGATE        .    118 

COMPANY    H. 


William  E.  Bunten,  Capt. 
.Albert  II.  Sawyer,  Ixt  Lt. 
Walter  II.  Sargent,  '2d  Lt.3 

Dunbarton  . 
Weare 
Webster      . 

28 
24 
37 

Student    . 
Soldier     . 
Farmer    . 

Oct.       2,  1862. 
Sept.    24,  1862, 
Oct.       2,  1862, 

Oct.       2,  1863. 
Sept.    25,  1863. 
Jan.     15,  1865. 

SBKGEANTS. 

David  A.  Macurdy,  I**.3  . 
Marcus  M.  Holmes3  . 

Webster      . 
Dunbarton  . 

32 

18 

Trader    . 

Student    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 
20,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

George  F.  Blanchard* 

Hopkinton  . 

21 

Student    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Joseph  C.  Muncey     . 
Timothy  E.  Bayley   . 

Chichester  . 
Plymouth    . 

21 
33 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 
21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

CORPORALS  . 

John  A.  Preston5      . 
John  S.  Wattless       . 
Hamilton  P.  Courser7 

Plymouth    . 

Hooksett     . 
Webster 

32 
34 
24 

Carpenter 
Mill  operative, 
Shoemaker 

Aug.    14,  1862. 
Sept.      2,  1862. 
Aug.    14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Albert  A.  Baker8 

Concord 

21 

Student    . 

22,  1862. 

Nathan  P.  Gilmore    . 

Goshen 

34 

Farmer     . 

25,  1  862, 

18,  1865. 

21 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Daniel  P.  Kilburn10  . 

Webster      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Arthur  F.  Goodrich  s 

Hopkinton  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

MUSICIAN. 
Cyrus  Sanborn  u        . 

Chichester  . 

45 

Carpenter 

Aug.    21,  1862, 

Dec.    24,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 
Bailey,  Amos  C.12      . 

Dunbarton  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    21,  1862, 

May       3,  1865. 

Baker,  William  H.5  . 

Concord      . 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Barnard,  George  M.12 
Barnes,  Edward  W.  . 

Hopkinton  . 
Concord 

18 
43 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 
Sept.      2,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 
May       9,  1863. 

Barrett,  Joel  B    . 
Blanchard,  Henry  H. 
Bradbury,  Samuel  G. 
Brown,  Frederick  T. 
Bunten,  George  H.13 

Plymouth    . 
Hopkinton  j 
Hopkinton  . 
Chichester. 
Bow     . 

31 
19 
44 
37 
22 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    15,  1862. 
22,  1862, 
30,  1862, 
11,  1862, 
Sept.      1,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
Oct.     18,  1863. 
May     10,  1863. 
July      8,  1865. 

Buzzell,  William 

Chichester  . 

38. 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Call,  George  -r>     . 
Call,  Chellis  E.  . 

Webster      . 
Chichester  . 

21 

31 

Farmer    . 
Painter    . 

8,  1862. 
Sept.   15,  1862, 

June    10,  1863. 

Chamberlain,  Alonzo  P.3  . 
Colby,  Daniel  A. 
Colby,  George  O.       . 
Corner,  David  S. 
Dollotr,  Levi  i«    . 

Dunbarton  . 
Francestown 
Hopkinton  . 
Webster 
Waterville  . 

25 
19 
18 
14 
26 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    21,  1862, 
15,  1862, 
18,  1862, 
14,  1862, 
11,  1862, 

May     30,  1865. 
Dec.     16,  1864. 
June    21,1865. 
July     26,  1865. 
July       8,  1865. 

Downing,  Daniel5     . 

Hopkinton. 

36 

Farmer    . 

27,  1862. 

Eaton,  Moses  K.5 

Dunbarton  . 

18 

Fanner    . 

16,  1862. 

Edmunds,  Charles  II.5 

Chichester  . 

24 

Farmer    .        . 

30,  1862. 

Emerson,  John  R.*    .        . 

Dunbarton  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Frazier,  Lewis   . 

Weare 

44 

Currier    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gale,  Augustus  L.     .        . 

Pembroke  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gale,  Solomon  G.10   . 

Pembroke  . 

28 

Shoemaker 

15,  1862. 

George,  Sullivan  II.  . 
Haines,  James  H. 
Ilaines,  Thomas 

Goshen 
Chichester  . 
Chichester  . 

27 

22 
22 

Harnessmaker, 
Farmer     . 
Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 
12,  1862, 
Sept.    29,1862, 

May     12,  1864. 
June    10,  1863. 
July      8,  1865. 

Harrington,  David'  . 

Hobbs,  Fernando5    . 

Hopkinton  . 
Warren 

19 
20 

Farmer    .         . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    27,  1862. 
25,  1862. 

1  Des.  Nov.  4,  1863. 

2  Table  II. 

»  Tables  II.,  III.,  VI. 
*  Tables  II.,  III. 


5  Table  IV.  °  Table  III.                        12  Tables  III.,  VI. 

6  Des   Jan.  11,  1863.  10  Tables  III.,  IV.               13  Table  VIII. 
i  Tables  VI    VIII.  "  Tr.  to  V.  R.  C.  Sept.   **  Table  VI. 

s  Table  111.,  V.  30,  1864.   Table  V11I. 


396 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  H  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

i 

< 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Hard,  Ira,  jun.  . 

Sunapee 

27 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    20,1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

J  offers,  Edward  F.     . 

Webster 

37 

Farmer    . 

11,1862, 

May     15,  1805. 

Kane,  James  l     .        . 

Walpole      . 

Sailor 

Oct.       8,  1862. 

Kelley,  Richard  i 

Walpole      . 

26 

Sailor 

8,  1862, 

Ladd,  George  W.       . 

Webster      . 

21 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Lear,  Edwin  B.  . 

Sunapee 

26 

Butcher   . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Lear,  George  B. 

Goshen 

23 

Blacksmith      . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Libbey,  Georsre  A.2   . 

Webster      . 

15 

Shoemaker 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Libbey,  William  H.  . 

Concord 

18 

Farmer     . 

12,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Lougee,  Abner  H. 

Camj>ton     . 

42 

Mechanic 

9,  1862, 

Sept.   26,  1863. 

Macurdy.  Matthew3  . 

Webster      . 

21 

Farmer     .         . 

11,  1862. 

M  (in-ill,  Artemas  W.2 

Plymouth    . 

29 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Merrill,  Luther  G.4    . 

Groton 

32 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

Mitchell,  Lewis  5 

Plymouth    . 

32 

Farmer     . 

12,  1862. 

Moody,  William  H.  . 

Concord 

18 

Farmer    .        . 

30,  1862, 

Sept.   24,1863. 

Morse,  John  D.  « 

Campion     . 

22 

Blacksmith      . 

14,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Monlton,  Freeman  2  . 

Campton      . 

44 

Blacksmith 

14,  1862, 

June   17,  1865. 

Nichols,  Hiram  7 

Hopkinton  .        . 

40 

Farmer    . 

29,  1862. 

Parker,  William  P.8  . 

Bow     . 

19 

Farmer     . 

22,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Paro,  Peter" 

Canterbury 

35 

Shoemaker 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Perry,  Joseph  C.7 

Chichester  . 

30 

Farmer     . 

27,  1862. 

Perry,  Samuel  M. 

Chichester  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

11,  186-2, 

8,  1865. 

Perkins,  Joseph  O.    . 
Poor,  Wilson  E.8 

Chichester  . 
Dumbarton. 

16 
22 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 
14,  186'2, 

Dec.    28,1864. 
July      8,  1865. 

Iloby,  Gardner7 

Webster 

35 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Roby,  George  8. 

Webster      . 

29 

Farmer     . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Russell,  David  O.       . 

Bow     . 

44 

Farmer    . 

Sept.      1,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Saltmarsh,  AlonzoP.™      . 

Bow     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Sanborn,  Henry  M.8  . 

Chichester  . 

19 

Farmer    . 

11,1862, 

8,  1865. 

Smith,  Laroy  7    .         .         . 

Concord 

19 

Farmer    . 

30,  1S62. 

Stanyan,  James  . 

Chichester  . 

24 

Farmer    . 

11,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Straw,  Edgar  II.7 

Unity  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862. 

Thompson,  Hiram  9  . 

Webster      . 

42 

Farmer    . 

9,  1862. 

Towle,  Cliarles  H.11  . 

Chichester  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862. 

Tucker,  George  W.3  . 

Concord 

18 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862. 

Varney,  John  S.2 

Warren 

25 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Varney,  Richard*      .        . 

Warren 

21 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862. 

Ward,  James  O.12      . 

Campton 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wheeler,  Robert  E.8  . 

I  >unb:u  ton  . 

17 

Farmer     . 

4,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Wilson,  Leonard8 

Dunbarton  . 

20 

Shoemaker 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Total    ...      86 

RECRUITS. 

Alexander,  Benjamin  D.  . 

Plainfield    . 

30 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    29,1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Axman,  John  13  . 

_           _ 

31 

Sailor 

20,  1863. 

Barrus,  Otis  A.4 

Richmond  . 

19 

Mechanic 

2,  1864. 

P>arrett,  John  L.* 

Plainfield     . 

21 

Laborer   . 

22,  1864. 

Hell,  Robert,'*    . 

New  London 

18 

Farmer    .        . 

March  14,  1864, 

Aug.    15,1865. 

Brown,  ElbridgeC.  . 

Dunbarton  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    22,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Brown,  Charles  15 

Northwood 

33 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     30,  1863. 

Brown,  Joseph  14 

Farmington 

21 

Druggist's  cl'k, 

Aug.    14,  1863. 

Burgess,  Henry  13 

_               _ 

22 

Sailor 

20,  186.'). 

Carroll,  James  16 

_ 

22 

Painter     . 

20,  1863. 

Cashman,  John  . 

Danbury     . 

30 

Laborer   . 

5,  1864, 

March  17,  1865. 

Clode,  Moliner17 

35 

Cook 

20,  1863. 

Cochran,  George  S.  . 

Sandown     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Collins,  Thomas  1;!      . 

_               _ 

27 

Tailor       . 

Aug.    20,  18t53. 

Clement,  Charles  N.2 

Sunapee 

25 

Farmer     . 

6,  1864. 

May     18,  1865. 

Frotliiiigham,  George  N.  . 

- 

20 

Shoemaker 

20,  1863, 

July      8,  1865. 

Garland,  Alonzo  E.  . 

Middleton    . 

18 

Farmer     . 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

April  27,  1864. 

Hastings,  Lyman  B.2 

Newport 

20 

Farmer     . 

Aug.    10,  1864. 

Hood,  Osborne  18 

_               _ 

21 

Sailor 

20,  1863. 

Hyer,  Christian  F.19  . 

Northwood 

22 

Sailor 

Dec.     28,  1863. 

1  Deserted  Oct.  8,  1862. 

2  Table  VI. 

a  Tables  III.,  V. 
4  Table  V. 
«  Table  VII. 


e  Tables  TIL,  VI.  »  Tr.  V.R.C.  Aug.  10, '64.  «  Deserted  Nov.  4,  1863. 

7  Table  IV.  "  Tables  II..  VI.,  Vlt.      '7  Deserted  June  2, 1864. 

8  Table  HI.  «  Deserted  March  17,  '64.  '*. Deserted  June  Mil,  is»l. 
»  Table  VIII.  >*  Table  II.  '»  Deserted  Jan.  23,  1804. 

i«  Tabks  111.,  VIII.  «  Deserted  March  12,  '64. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


397 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  H  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

0) 

be 
•< 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

RECRUITS. 

Xennet,  John  1    . 
Keough,  Lawrence    . 
Jveegan,  John  2  . 

Wolfborough     . 
Lee 

Rochester   . 

20 
32 
21 

Laborer  . 
Marble  pol'r    . 
Baker       . 

Oct.     28,  1863. 
Aug.    14,  1  Sii:5, 
12,  1863. 

July      1,  1865. 

Lapoint,  Francis 
McCalley,  John  3 

Dublin 
Nottingham 

21 
22 

Laborer   . 
Sailor 

Sept.    26,  1863, 
Aug.    24,  1863. 

8,  1865. 

Mailman,  Dennis  2 

Keene  . 

19 

Farmer    . 

July    28,  1864, 

8   1865. 

Marstin,  George  W.  . 

Marlow 

19 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    15,  1864, 

8   1865. 

Moulton,  Freeman  L. 
Norwood,  John  E.4   . 

Campton     . 
Richmond  . 

18 
17 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Sept.    13,  1864, 
Jan.       4,  1864, 

8   1865. 
8   1865. 

Peters,  Peter 

_           _ 

22 

Sailor 

Aug.    20,  1863, 

8   1865. 

Pierce,  Edward  E.2   . 

Langdon 

19 

Laborer   . 

2,  1864, 

8   1865. 

Simonns,  William  3  . 

Northwood 

28 

Farmer    . 

Dec.     28.  1863. 

Scribins,  Thomas  L. 

Marlow 

24 

Laborer   . 

July     30,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Bhehan,  William  »     . 

_           _ 

23 

Sailor 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Smith,  Simeon  C. 

Newport     . 

33 

Jeweller  . 

10,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Waters,  Silas  5  . 

Milton 

9= 

Boatman  . 

14,  1863. 

Watson,  Charles  8 

23 

Sailor 

20,  1863. 

Welch,  Morris  « 

Rochester   . 

32 

Laborer  . 

14,  1863. 

Weiss,  Joseph  ° 

New  Durham 

36 

Laborer   . 

14,  1863. 

Whitefield,  George  t 

Harrington  . 

33 

Sailor       . 

14,  1863. 

Wilder,  Isaacs  . 

New  Durham 

22 

Sailor       . 

14,  1863. 

Williams,  John  E.     . 

Hampton  Falls  . 

24 

Shoemaker 

22,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

WT511iams,  Simeon  2    . 

_           _ 

19 

Farmer    . 

20,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Winn,  John 

Claremont  . 

20 

Laborer  . 

24,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Total     ...      44 

AGGREGATE        .    130 

COMPANY  I. 


Sylvester  M.Bugbee,  Capt. 

Cornish 

39 

Carriage-maker 

Aug.      2,  1862, 

Dec.    17,1862. 

Win.  II.  Ohaflln,  Gapt.*    . 

Claremont  . 

23 

Student    . 

Jan.     11,1863. 

Nath'l  L.  Chandler,  Ixt  Lt.* 

Newbury     . 

29 

Merchant 

Aug.    12,  1862. 

Dudley  J.  Pillsbu  y  ,  2d  Lt.1 

Grantham  . 

26 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

Asa  W.  Richardson,  lstg  . 
Henry  S.  Paul  10 

Cornish 
Claremont  . 

39 
24 

Carriage  mfr., 
Clerk 

Aug.    21,  1862, 
14,  1862. 

July    27,  1865. 

Ransom  Huntoon  4    . 

Unity  . 

26 

Fanner    . 

12,  1862, 

26,  1865. 

Thomas  J.  Morrill  u 

Grantham  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

William  W.  Page  *    . 

Newport     . 

31 

Rake  manuf.   . 

Sept.    11,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

Benjamin  F.  Pierce  12 

Bradford     . 

30 

Engineer. 

Aug.    22,  1862, 

June     2,  1865. 

Horace  F.  Brown  ls  . 

Grantham  . 

22 

Farmer     . 

21,  1862. 

Ezekiel  H.  Hadley     . 
Peter  Crowell     . 

Washington 

Newport 

24 
33 

Blacksmith 
Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 
23,  1862, 

Aug.      7,  1865. 
June    23,  1865. 

Hiram  K.  Darling  u  . 

Croydon 

20 

Mechanic 

30,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Daniel  C.  Currier 

Grantham   . 

21 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

8,  18(55. 

Sylvester  Tasker  J3    . 

Cornish 

21 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862. 

George  S.  Jones  u     . 

Washington 

15 

No  occupation, 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

Levi  Leet  14 

Claremont  . 

44 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    13,  1862, 

June    23,  1863. 

Eben  W.  Parker  w    . 

Whitefield  . 

36 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

Jason  A.  Perkins 

Newbury    . 

34 

Blacksmith      . 

Sept.    17,1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

1  Deserted  March  12,  '64. 

2  Table  VI. 

s  Deserted  March  17,  '64. 
*  Tables  II.,  VI. 


6  Table  V. 

e  Deserted  Nov.  3,  '63. 

7  Table  IV. 

8  Tables  III.,  IV. 


»  Tables  III.,  VIII. 

10  Tables  III.,  V. 

11  Table  III. 

12  Tables  ILL,  VI. 


"  Tables  II. ,  V. 
»  Table  VIII. 
»  Table  II. 


398 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  I  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

be 

Occupation. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Abbott,  Willis  8.1      . 

Unity  . 

43 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    30,  1862, 

May       3,  1865. 

Bailey,  Cyrus  8. 

Bradford     . 

16 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

July       8,  1H65. 

Barker,  Frederick  L.* 

Claremont  . 

36 

Fanner    . 

25,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Barton,  Ziba  CV 
Ben  way,  Reuben  T.3 

Newport     . 
Cornish 

18 
19 

Operative 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    30,  1862, 
20,  1862. 

8,  1865. 

Bowler,  John 

Claremont  . 

23 

Operative 

29,  1862, 

9,  1S63. 

Bovvker,  Charles  S.4  . 

Washington 

28 

Laborer  . 

Sept.    15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Borden,  Albert  5 

Newport     . 

25 

Mechanic 

Aug.    25,  1862. 

Borden,  Edaar6 

Newport     . 

20 

Mechanic         . 

27,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Burr,  Versal  E.3 

Cornish 

34 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    21,  1862. 

Cammett,  Charles  O. 

Unity  . 

21 

Blacksmith 

25,  1862. 

8,  1865. 

Chapman,  James  H.i 

Cornish 

40 

Fanner    . 

Aug.    26,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Clough,  Francis  S.3   . 

Grantham  . 

20 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

Cloiiuh,  Newton  7 

Grantham  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

May     22,  1865. 

Colburn,  Walter  F.    . 

New  bury    . 

42 

Stone-mason    . 

Sept.    23,  18(52, 

31,  1865. 

Collins,  Edward  W.« 

Cornish 

44 

Shoemaker      . 

Aug.    22,  1862, 

Oct.        5,  1863. 

Cram,  George  F. 

Newport      . 

37 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Crowell,  Jonathan  3  . 

Newport     . 

37 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862. 

Cumings,  Charles  B.8 

Cornish 

21 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Currier,  Henry  H.3    . 

Newport     . 

21 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862. 

Dickey,  Joseph  A.»   . 

Claremont  . 

26 

Farmer    . 

Sept.    10,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Dodge,  Simeon  S.i     . 
Dudley,  Winthrop  C. 

Newbury    . 

Newbury    . 

38 
39 

Carpenter 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    12,  1862, 
Sept.    23,  1862, 

May     18,  1865. 
July       8,  1865. 

Edminster,  Thomas  B.3    . 

Cornish 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    21,  1862. 

Fitch,  Luther  J. 

Newport      . 

42 

Blacksmith      . 

27,  1862, 

17,  1865. 

Foster,  Charles  E.K>  . 

Acworth 

23 

Merchant 

Sept.    10,  1862, 

June    26,  1865. 

Gault,  John  S.8  . 

Grantham  . 

42 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    21,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Gillingham,  Oliver  P. 

Claremont  . 

40 

Farmer    . 

27,  1862, 

Feb.       5,  1863. 

Hardy,  William  ° 

Goshen 

41 

Mechanic 

Sept.    15,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Haven,  Abiel  L.» 

Newport     . 

35 

Mechanic 

Aug.    25,  1862, 

June    18,  1865. 

Ilibbard,  John  B.       . 

Cornish 

21 

Farmer    . 

23/1862, 

May     29,  1863. 

Ho  ban,  Patrick  . 

Claremont  . 

23 

Paper-maker  . 

25,  1862, 

June     8,  1865. 

Howard,  Waldo  L.1  . 

Cornish 

21 

Carriage-maker 

21,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Howard,  Wilbur  F." 

Cornish 

22 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

Jan.       6,  1865. 

Howe,  Calvin  L.13      . 

Washington 

32 

Laborer   . 

Sept.    13,  1862. 

Hoyt,  Christopher3   . 

Washington 

21 

Farmer     . 

Aug.    22,  1862. 

Hunter,  Harlan  P. 

Cornish 

17 

Farmer     . 

25,  1862, 

March  2,1865. 

Hurley,  Martin  V.  B. 

Claremont  . 

25 

Wheelwright  . 

25,  1862, 

June     15,  1865. 

Knights,  Alonzo14     . 

Cornish 

26 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Lane,  Marcus  M.ir>     . 

Cornish 

22 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

June      2,  1865. 

Leavitt,  Charles  H.3  . 

Grantham  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Lewis,  William  S.3    . 

Cornish 

29 

Painter    . 

23,  1862. 

Mace,  Henry  C.8 

Meriden 

19 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

McMahan,  John 

Lancaster    . 

25 

Laborer  . 

Sept.    15,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

McMahan,  Michael    . 

Cbarlestown 

45 

Laborer  . 

Aug.    15,  1862, 

May     18,  1865. 

Marshall,  Eugene  O.3 

Bradford     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862. 

Miller,  Jonathan,  jun.i 

Meriden 

21 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Miller,  Wareham  M.3 

Grantham  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

25,  1862. 

Page,  John  M.]U 

Newport     . 

27 

Mechanic 

Sept.      4,  1S62, 

8,  1865. 

Peck,  Philander  H.3  . 

Newport     . 

20 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    28,  1862. 

Pike,  Clarence  F.       . 

Newport      . 

23 

Farmer    . 

23,  1862, 

Feb.     29,  1864. 

Powers,  Elias  F.3 

Croydon 

18 

Farmer    .         . 

18,  1862. 

Bobbins,  David  Z.     . 

Newport 

18 

Dperative 

Sept.   27,  1862, 

March  27,  1863. 

Saimders,  Lyman  P. 

Grantham   . 

33 

Blacksmith 

Aug.    21,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Short,  John  N.  . 

Plaintield     . 

44 

Farmer    . 

24,  1862, 

Feb.     28,  1863. 

Stockwell,  Charles  II. 

Newport 

18 

Farmer    . 

30,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Stoddard,  Hezekiah  18 

Stewartstown     . 

42 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

June    25,  1865. 

Stone,  Hiram  ;i    . 

Cornish 

38 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Stowell,  Freeman  S.1 

Washington 

26 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Stowell,  George  H.8  . 

Claremont  .        . 

20 

Miller       . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1S65. 

Tasker,  George19 

Croydon 

20 

Farmer    . 

20,  1862, 

June      8,  1865. 

Wallace,  William8    . 

Newport 

27 

Mechanic 

30,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Welch,  William  «     . 

Lempster    . 

60 

Lumberman    . 

21,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Table  TL 

Table  VI. 

Table  TV. 

Table  VITT. 

Table  V.  «  Table  VIII. 


*  Table  III.  «  Tr. V.R.C.  Aug.  10, '64.  "  Tables  TIL,  VIL 

8  Tables  IL,  III.  ™  Tables  IL,  VL  is  Tr.  V.  R.  C.  Nov. 

9  Tables  IL,  VIII.  "  DCS.  Oct.  16,  1862.  1863.     Table  II. 
o  Tr.  V.R.C.  Feb.  1,  '65.  i4  Tables  IL,  VIL               »  Table  VII. 

Tables  II. ,  ILL  «  Tables  111.,  VI. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 
TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  I —  Continued. 


399 


NAME. 

Residence. 

& 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 

Whi  taker,  Benjamin  l 
Woodbury,  Albert    . 

Grantham   . 
Bradford     . 

18 
39 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Aug.    19,1862, 
22,  1862, 

July       8,1865. 
8,  1865. 

Woodward,  Charles2 
Total    ...      86 

Cornish 

20 

Farmer    . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

RECRUITS. 

Ashey,  John 
Ashey,  Lewis     . 
Belanger,  Alphonzo3 

Charlestown 
Charlestown 
Piermont     . 

19 
29 
21 

Farmer    . 
Farmer    . 

Jan.       5,  1864, 
5,  1864, 
Sept.    29,  1863. 

July       8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Brown,  Charles4 

Seabrook     . 

35 

Sailor 

Dec.     28,  1863, 

• 

Brown,  George  .        .        . 

Seabrook     . 

32 

Farmer    . 

30,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Butler,  Joseph  5 

Charlestown 

34 

Laborer   . 

Jan.       5,  1864. 

Brown,  Thomas 
Brohn,  Carl6      . 

Langdon 

21 

29 

Sailor 
Laborer   .        . 

Aug.    20,  1863, 
2,  1864. 

8,  1865. 

Choate,  Thomas  * 

Bradford     . 

18 

Farmer    . 

March  14,  1864. 

Dow,  Newell  F.4 

Seabrook     . 

18 

Shoemaker 

Dec.     30,  1863. 

Elson,  Alfred"  . 

_               _ 

25 

Waiter     . 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Foss,  Walter  FI. 

Hanover 

44 

Farmer    . 

Jan.       4,  1864, 

Feb.     24,  1865. 

(rove,  Charles  R. 

Seabrook     . 

17 

Shoemaker 

Dec.     30,  186.3, 

July       8,  1865. 

Hall,  Levi  !).,  jun.2   . 
Jones,  Henry  *   . 
Martin,  George8 
Mehier,  Peter9  . 

Claremont  . 
Nelson 
Somersworth      . 
Chichester  . 

33 
22 

22 
30 

Fanner    .        . 
Seaman    . 
Engineer. 
Farmer     . 

Jan.       4,  1864, 
Sept.    24,  1863. 
Aug.    14,  1S63. 
Dec.     29,  1863. 

8,  1865. 

Miller,  Theodore 
Mullen,  Husrh10 
Murphy,  John  :1  . 
Osgood,  William  T.11 

Cornish 
Portsmouth 
Ilolderness 
Seabrook     . 

16 
21 
25 

28 

Moulder  . 
Laborer   . 
Farmer    . 

Sept.      4,  1863, 
Aug.      3,  1864, 
5,  1864. 
Dec.     30,  1863, 

June      8,1865. 
July       8,  1865. 

June    27,  1865. 

Oliver,  Mitchell  '2      . 
O'Brien,  Cornelius     . 
Peasley,  George  W.10 

Charlestown 
Newmarket 
Washington 

32 
21 
27 

Farmer    . 
Teamster 
Shoemaker 

29,  1863, 
Aug.      5.  1864, 
Dec.     16,  1863, 

May     29,  1865. 
July       6,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Peters,  George  13 

Portsmouth 

24 

Seaman    . 

29,  1863. 

Rider,  Thomas15 

_               _ 

36 
25 

Sailor 
Clerk 

Aug.    20,  1863. 
20,  1863. 

Roch,  John  15      . 
Rosealine,  Devine10  . 

Farmington 

22 
20 

Ironworker 
Tailor 

14,  1863. 
21,  1863 

Sanborn,  William  II.* 

Seabrook     . 

30 

Farmer    . 

Dec.    30,'  1863. 

Shellan,  Morris  » 
Stanley,  Clarence17   . 
Stanley,  George 

Newmarket 
Middleton   . 

20 
22 

Laborer   . 

Aug.      5,  1864. 
5,  1864, 
14,  1863. 

June      6,  1865. 

Smith,  Arthur  T.2      . 
Smith,  Peter 
Sliter,  Charles's 

Somersworth 
Portsmouth 

21 
22 
19 

Carriage-maker 
Sailor 
Seaman    . 

14,  1863, 
20,  1863, 
Dec.     29,  1863. 

July       8,1865. 
8,  1865. 

Taylor,  John  «  . 
Watson,  William  H.  H.*  . 
Wilson,  Otto4    . 
Total    ...      39 

Middleton   . 
Eflingham  . 

23 
20 
21 

Carpenter 
Shoemaker 
Sailor 

Aug.    14,  1863. 
Jan.       4,  1864. 
Aug.    20,  1863. 

AGGREGATE        .    125 

COMPANY    K. 


Oliver  H.  Marston,  Capt.18 
Jason  D.  Snell,  !.«<  Lt.*     . 

Sandwich    . 
Pembroke  . 

24 
?! 

Pail  manuf'r.  . 

Aug.  14,1862, 
14,  1862 

July      8,  1865. 

M.  S.  Webster,  2d  Lt.™    . 

Sandwich    . 

38 

Machinist 

14,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

James  H.  Gilman,  l.vZ,12    . 
Octavius  C.  Mason  18 
James  M.  Parrott 
Benjamin  C.  Skinner  2°     . 
John  M.  Prentiss 

Sandwich    . 
Sandwich    . 
Sandwich    . 
Sandwich    . 
Pembroke  . 

35 
30 
23 
32 

28 

Farmer     . 
Furniture  deal. 
Farmer    .        . 
Tailor 
Trader     . 

Aug.  14,1862, 
14,  1862, 
16,  1862, 
15,  1862, 
13,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 
May     16,  1865. 

2  Ja£  e8TT    '  IIL>  VL         6  Absent  rick  July  8,  '65.  12  Table  VI.  "  Absent  in  arrest  for  de- 

{  i'ble  1L.  7  Deserted  Dec.  25,  1863.  ™  Deserted  Jan.  29, 1864.         Portion  July  8,  1865. 

-»  Absent  sick  July  8,  '65.   8  Deserted  Nov.  5,  1863.   14  Deserted  Nov.  13, 1863.         Table  VI. 
ami, ,    ITT  "  Table*  IV.,  VII.  «  Deserted  Nov.  2,  1863.    ™  Tables  III.,  VI. 

'  *  able  IV-  10  T.,ble  III.  10  Deserted  Nov.  6,  1863.  19  Tables  111.,  V. 

»  Deserted  March  14,  '64.  "  Tables  VII. ,  VIII.  20  Table  y^ 


400 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  K  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

& 
^ 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 

Discharge. 

CORPORALS. 

Oceanus  Straw  1 

Sandwich    . 

38 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,  1862 

Jeremiah  S.  Smith  2  . 

Sandwich    . 

30 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862 

June     2,  1865. 

Russell  Graves  . 

Sandwich    . 

42 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862 

April     6,  ]8G3. 

Lemuel  F.  Vittum  3  . 

Sandwich    . 

33 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862 

July       8,  1865. 

George  N.  French  *  . 

Sandwich    . 

21 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862 

June    30,  1865. 

Enoch  S.  Eastman     . 
Daniel  It.  Gilman 

Tarn  worth  . 
Sandwich    . 

22 

Wheelwright 
Farmer    . 

14,  1862 
14,  1862 

Sept.      7,  1863. 
July      8,  1865. 

Samuel  F.  Beede  «     . 

Sandwich    . 

22 

Student    . 

6,  1862 

May     24,  1865. 

MUSICIANS. 

J.  MarcelhiB  Smith*. 

Sandwich    . 

17 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    34,  1862 

July      9,  1865. 

John  L.  Smith    . 

Sandwich    . 

17 

Blacksmith     . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

WAGONER. 

Benjamin  F.  Sawtelle  •     . 

Sandwich    . 

29 

Teamster 

Aug.    15,  1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Thomas  S.fi  . 

Moultonborough 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    13,  1862. 

At  wood,  Harrison,  2d  l     . 

Sandwich    . 

26 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Atwood,  Jolm    . 

Sandwich    . 

35 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Baker,  Benjamin 

Pembroke  . 

28 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

linker,  Ilazen  O.1 

Pembroke  . 

37 

Joiner 

13,  1862. 

Bennett,  Amos  W.    . 

Sandwich    . 

28 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862, 

Feb.     14,  1863. 

Bennett,  William  II.  H.»  . 

Sandwich    . 

21 

Shoemaker 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Bigelow,  John  GJ      . 

Sandwich    . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

15,  1865. 

Blake,  Henry  F.« 

Pembroke  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

13,  18(52. 

Blood,  Herman  . 

Pembroke  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Brown,  Warren  J.s   . 

Sandwich    . 

21 

Farmer    . 

21,  1862, 

May     23,  1865. 

Bryant,  Silas  J.« 

Sandwich    . 

35 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Chase,  James  E. 

Sandwich    . 

19 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Cofran,  Charles  N.«   . 

Pembroke  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Co  f  ran,  George  B.1    . 

Pembroke  . 

26 

Farmer     . 

13,  1862. 

Cook,  Jesse  H.  . 

Sandwich    . 

34 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

May       3,  1865. 

Dale,  Ebenezer  H.1    . 

Sandwich    . 

23 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Dolby,  Albert  T.9 

Pembroke  . 

41 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

June    12,  1865. 

Drew,  Simon  l   . 

Pembroke  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Drtiker,  Henry  10 

Pembroke   . 

44 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862. 

Dustin,  Ezekiel  E.     . 

Sandwich    . 

35 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July       8,  1S65. 

E.stes,  Benjamin  9 

Sandwich    . 

42 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Estes,  William  H.      . 

Sandwich    . 

22 

Farmer    .        . 

15,  1862, 

22,  1863. 

Fellows,  Benjamin  F.3 

Sandwich    . 

28 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Fife,  Thomas  H.1*      . 

Pembroke  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862. 

Fowler,  Trueworthy  5 

Pembroke  . 

19 

Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Fry,  John   .... 

Sandwich    . 

22 

Farmer    .        . 

15,  1862, 

Oct.       2,  1863. 

Glidden,  George  M.u 

Pembroke   . 

18 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Glidden,  Warren  A.  . 

Pembroke   . 

19 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Goss,  John  W.  . 

Sandwich    . 

31 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Gove,  John  M.3  . 

Sandwich    . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Haddock,  Georg"  9    . 

Sandwich    . 

39 

[Joatman  . 

13,  1862, 

May     23,  1865. 

ITadley,  Alonzo  C.^2  . 

Sandwich    . 

23 

Farmer    .        . 

14,  1862. 

Haggett,  Benjamin  B.13     . 

Pembroke  . 

23 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

20,  1865. 

Haggett,  Lorenzo  D.° 

Sandwich    .        . 

19 

Fanner     . 

14,  1862. 

Haggett,  Stephen  N.9 

Sandwich    . 

21 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

Feb.       9,  1863. 

Hill,  John  D.  H. 

•Sandwich    . 

26 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

Tune      5,  1865. 

Huntress,  Andrew     . 

•Sandwich   . 

27 

Farmer    .        . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Huntress,  Joseph  L.G 

Sandwich    . 

35 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Kelley,  Ellery  C.9      . 

Pembroke  . 

18 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

Oct.        7,  1863. 

Ki-nt,  John 

Sandwich    . 

40 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Magoon,  Asa  2    . 

Sandwich    . 

36 

Farmer    . 

14,  1862, 

June      6,  1865. 

Mooney,  Isaac  G. 

Sandwich    . 

44 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

Tuly       8,  186.'). 

Morse,  John  H.  .        .        . 

Sandwich    . 

23 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

\pril   15,  1864. 

Moulton.  Henry  H.    . 

Sandwich    . 

19 

Farmer    . 

19,  1862, 

Tuly       8,  1865. 

Nelson,  John  W.2      . 

'embroke  . 

27 

Farmer    . 

22,  1862, 

May     12,  1865. 

Page,  Henry  P.14 

Centre  Harbor    . 

23 

Student    . 

22,  1862, 

15,  1865. 

Pearl,  James  W.9       . 

Sandwich    . 

38 

Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

Dec.     26,  1864. 

1  Table  V. 

2  Tables  VI.,  VIII. 
»  Table  III. 

*  Table  II. 


»  Tables  TTL,  VI. 

«  Table  IV. 

i  Deserted. 

s  Tables  III.,  VIII. 


«  Table  VIII.  ™  Deserted  Nov.  13,  '63. 

10  Tr.  Navy,  June  30,  '64.  13  Table  VI. 

Table  VIIT.  "  Tables  II.,  III. 

«  Tables  III.,  IV. 


ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 


401 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  K — Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

09 

M 
4 

Occupation. 

Date  of 

Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

PRIVATES. 
Plumraer,  Henry 

Sandwich    . 

18 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    14,1862, 

July       8,  1865. 

Prescott,  John  M.1     . 

Sandwich    . 

43  i  Farmer    . 

July     30,  1862. 

Quimby,  George  D.1          . 
Quimby,  William  F.2 
Robinson,  Frank  P.3  . 

Sandwich    . 
Sandwich    . 
Pembroke   . 

23  1 
25  i 
18 

Farmer    . 
Carpenter 
Farmer  .  .  '•    . 

Aug.    14,  1862. 
14,  1862, 
13,  1862. 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Simpson,  William 

Pembroke  . 

23 

Farmer     . 

28,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Sinclair,  Edwin  D.     . 

Sandwich    . 

31 

Shoemaker 

15,  1862, 

Aug.      9,  1864. 

Sinclair,  William  H.  H.1  . 

Sandwich    . 

23     Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

Smith,  Daniel  M.3 

Sandwich    . 

23     Farmer    . 

15,  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Smith,  Herbert  H. 

Sandwich    . 

18     Tinman    . 

16,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Smith,  Lewis  Q.3 

Sandwich    . 

30  '  Farmer     . 

14,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Smith,  Moses  L.1 

Sandwich    . 

31     Farmer     . 

14,  1862. 

Smith,  Samuel  S.2 

Sandwich    . 

18  '  Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Stone,  George  W.3     . 

Pembroke  . 

28     Farmer    . 

13,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Tanner,  Edward  E.1  . 

Sandwich    . 

18  '  Farmer     . 

14,  1862. 

Tanner,  Henry  H.     . 
Tilton,  Henry  A. 

Sandwich    . 
Sandwich    . 

22     Laborer   . 
27     Farmer    . 

18,  1862, 
16,  1862, 

Oct.     15,  1864. 
May     15,  1863. 

Vittum,  Giles  S.* 

Sandwich    . 

25     Farmer    . 

14,  1862. 

Vittum,  Samuel  F.     . 

Sandwich    . 

44     Farmer     . 

14,  1862, 

Nov.    23,  1864. 

Wallace,  Alfred 

Sandwich    . 

34     Farmer     . 

18.  1862, 

July      8,  1865. 

Wallace,  James  M.1  . 

Sandwich    . 

36 

Farmer    . 

15,  1862. 

White,  Benjamin 

Pembroke  . 

42 

Farmer    . 

29,  1862, 

8,  1865. 

Total    ...     89 

RECRUITS. 

Basacca,  Antonio       .        . 

Grafton 

21 

Laborer  . 

Aug.      2,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 

Bennett,  John  P.8      . 

Sandwich    . 

35 

Laborer  . 

Jan.       1,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Buckalow,  John 

Gilford 

18 

Seaman    . 

Aug.      3,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Burnham,  James  H.  . 

Grafton 

18 

Seaman    . 

30,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Buzzell,  Ebenezer  M.8 

Lake  Village      . 

16 

Box-cutter 

Jan.       5,  1864, 

June    14,  1865. 

Buzzell,  Ransom  D.6 

Lake  Village      . 

18 

Carpenter 

5,  1864, 

July       8,  1865. 

Cameron,  Donald  J.4         . 

_              _ 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Cowan,  Wentworth  S. 

Windham    . 

32 

Farmer    . 

11,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Cruickshank,  Alex.  D.7    . 

_              _ 

22 

Clerk 

20,  1863. 

Densiro,  Dennis 

Alexandria 

41 

Laborer   . 

5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Dob  son,  James  .        . 

_              _ 

28 

_           _ 

July     29,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Eaton,  Charles  B.8     . 

_              _ 

21 

Clerk 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Eaton,  Hiel  F.1  .        . 

__              _ 

18 

Shoemaker      . 

Feb.       2,  1865. 

Emerson,  James  6      . 

Chatham 

37 

Laborer   . 

Dec.     30,  1863, 

8,  1865. 

Gazhoe,  Alexander   . 

Richmond  . 

22 

Laborer   . 

Aug.      3,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Glogelt,  Enos6  . 

Canaan 

33 

Stone-cutter    . 

Sept.   29,  1863, 

Nov.    20,  1865. 

Golding,  George9 

_              _ 

24 

Moulder  . 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Haddock,  George  H.™       . 
Hallett,  George  W.10 

Plainneld    . 
Portsmouth 

19 
21 

Boatman  . 
Boatman  . 

Sept.     6,  1864. 
Aug.      5,  1864. 

Harriman,  Amos  *     . 

Chatham 

38 

Laborer   . 

Dec.    30,  1863. 

Harriman,  Edgar 
Harriman,  Phleman11 
Henry,  Louis 

Chatham     . 
Chatham 
Swanzey 

18 
18 
23 

Fanner 
Laborer   . 
Laborer   . 

30,  1863, 
30,  1863, 
Aug.      2,  1864, 

July      8,  1865. 
Aug.      2,  1865. 
July      8,  1865. 

Herrell,  John  9  . 

_              _ 

24 

Baker       . 

20,  1863. 

Jackson,  David12 

_              _ 

25 

Shoemaker 

20,  1863. 

LeBosquet,  Henry  S. 
Lee,  William  13  . 

Milton 
New  Durham     . 

18 
35 

Shoemaker 
Laborer   . 

Dec.    29,  1863, 
Aug.    14,  1863. 

8,  1865. 

Long,  Samuel14 

_              _ 

23 

Laborer   . 

20,  1863. 

Manchester,  Lorenzo  D.  . 

Alton  . 

24 

Teamster 

Feb.       2,  1865, 

8,  1865. 

Mandcville,  Horace  B.^    . 

_              _ 

22 

Sailor 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

Maxwell,  Douglass  « 
McGowan,  Thomas   . 

Farmington 
Greenfield  . 

22 
20 

Porter 
Farmer    . 

14,  1863. 
2,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Mcllugh,  Peter9 

New  Durham     . 

26 

Laborer   . 

14,  1863. 

Monson,  John  17         .        . 

Nelson 

22 

Laborer  . 

Sept.   29,  1863. 

Murray,  Patrick 

Nelson 

18 

Hostler    . 

Aug.      5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Nelson,  Charles  W.9. 

Keene  . 

22 

Teamster 

Sept.    29,  1863. 

O'Brien,  Edward 

_               _ 

30 

—           — 

July     29,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Oldes,  James  a   . 

- 

25 

Sailor 

Aug.    20,  1863. 

1  Table  IV.  6  Table  VI.  10  Deserted  June  21,  '65.  «  Deserted  Feb.  3,  1864. 

2  Tables  III.,  VI.  T  Deserted  Jan.  29,  '64.  "  Tr.  V.R.C.  June  6,  '64.  «  Deserted. 

3  Table  III.    *  Table  V.  8  Deserted  March  12,  '64.  12  Deserted  Nov.  15.  '63.   10  Deserted  Feb.  2,  1864. 
B  Table  VIII.  •  Deserted  Nov.  3, 1863.  "  Table  VII.  "  Deserted  Feb.  4, 1864. 


402 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  I.  —  COMPANY  K  —  Concluded. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

§> 
< 

Occupation. 

Date  of 
Enlistment. 

Date  of 
Discharge. 

RECKUITS. 

Phelps,  Daniel  W.i  . 

Orford 

29 

Laborer  . 

Dec.     22,  1863. 

Robinson,  Samuel  D.a 

Pembroke  . 

22 

Farmer    . 

Aus?.    10,1864, 

Feb.       8,  1865. 

Schmidt,  John3 

Somersworth 

26 

Carpenter 

July    29,  1864. 

Tarbox,  Alfred  A.« 

_              _ 

42 

Shoemaker 

Aug.    15,  1863. 

Taylor,  Peter  5 

Swanzey     . 

22 

Laborer   . 

5,  1864. 

Toben,  James 

Fremont 

30 

Laborer  . 

July    29,  1864, 

July    27,1865. 

Whaylan,  John 

Salem  . 

25 

Laborer   . 

Aug.      5,  1864, 

8,  1865. 

Whipple,  Joseph 
Wilson,  James 

Fitz  William 
Chesterfield 

22 
20 

Mechanic 
Shoemaker 

22,  1864, 
July    29,  1864, 

8,  1865. 
8,  1865. 

Total     .                      47 

AGGREGATE        .   136 

i  Table  V.       8  Table  VI.        3  Sick  in  hospital.        *  Deserted  March  12, 1864.       "  Table  VII. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  adjutant-general's  reports  give  the 
names  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  recruits,  who  were  assigned 
to  the  regiment,  but  who  never  reached  it,  and  were  never  taken 
up  on  its  rolls.  Of  these,  one  hundred  and  six  are  reported  as 
"  not  officially  accounted  for."  Careful  investigation  renders  it 
certain  that  all  of  this  number  deserted  while  en  route  to  the  regi 
ment  from  the  draft  rendezvous.  Seventeen  were  discharged  at 
Gallop's  Island,  May  6,  1865,  having  started  for  the  regiment,  and 
three  at  later  periods  of  the  same  year. 


SPECIAL  DETAILS. 


403 


TABLE    II. 

SPECIAL   DETAILS. 

FIELD,   STAFF,  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 


NAME. 


Nature  of  Detail. 


Robert  Wilson 

Tlleston  A.  Barker 
William  A.  Heard  . 
William  Henry  Thayer 

Marshall  Perkins     . 


Albert  F.  Hussey    . 


In  command  district  of  Carrollton,  La.,  April  9  to  June  12,  1864.  In 
command  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.  C.,  June,  July,  1864. 

General  court-martial,  Washington,  D.C.,  Feb.  25, 1864,  to  Feb.  5, 1865. 

Brigade  quartermaster,  Nov.,  1862. 

Medical  inspector,  State  of  N.H.,  Nov.,  1863,  to  Jan.,  1864,  by  order 
sec.  of  war.  Surgeon-in-chief  2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,  Feb.  23  to  July,  1865. 

In  charge  camp  distribution,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Feb.  8,  1865.  In  charge 
small-pox  post  hospital,  section  No.  2,  Savannah,  Ga.,  March  13, 
1865.  Companies  A  and  I,  N.Y.  Engineers,  Savannah,  Ga.,  May  7, 
1865.  Tenth  A.  C.  ambulance-corps,  June  14,  1865. 

Acting  regimental  quartermaster,  Dec.  3  to  March  3,  1864.  Acting 
quartermaster  under  Capt.  Starr,  Savannah,  Ga.,  March,  1865. 
Assistant  street-commissioner,  Savannah,  Ga.,  April  to  July,  1865. 


COMPANY    A. 


Charles  P.  Hall 


Holland  Wheeler 
A.  Henry  Latham 


Coggin,  John  H. 
Fiske,  Charles  R.    . 

King,  John  L. . 
Leach,  Samuel  I.     . 

Lewis,  George  W.  . 
Mason,  Allison  Z.   . 


Wardwell,  George  O. 
Wright,  George  A. 
Whitcomb,  Franklin  C. 


In  charge  of  invalid  detachment  under  provost-marshal,  Washington, 

D.C.,  June  to  Nov.,  1863.    In  command  Fort  Pulaski,  Ga.,  March 

5  to  June  5,  1865. 

Sergeant  of  the  guard  at  brigade  headquarters,  Jan.,  1863. 
On  canal-boat  from  Poolesville  to  Washington,  winter  1862-63.    At 

provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  June,  1863.     With  supply. 

train,  Aug.,  1864.  . 

Brigade  teamster,  Aug.,  1864. 

Quartermaster's  department  of  the  post,  Carrollton,  La.,  April,  1864. 

Subsistence  department  at  division  headquarters,  June,  1864. 
Acting  assistant  commissary  of   subsistence,  and   acting   assistant 

quartermaster,  Fort  Pulaski,  Ga.,  March  to  June,  1865. 
Clerk  for  brigade  quartermaster,  Oct.,  1862,  to  April,  1863.    Clerk  in 

Campbell  General  Hospital,  April,  1863,  to  July  21,  1865. 
United-States  secret  service,  Washington,  D.C.,  Jan.,  1864. 
Head  clerk,  headquarters  district  Carrollton,  La.,  April  16  to  May  31, 

1864.     Head  clerk,  headquarters  distributing  camp,  Bedloe's  Island, 

New- York  Harbor,  Nov.  19,  1864,  to  July  7,  1865. 
Guard  at  provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  June  to  Oct.,  1864. 
Nurse  and  cook  at  division  hospital,  Savannah,  Ga. 
Orderly  in  office  paymaster  D.  Taylor,  Washington,  D.C.,  July  to 

Sept.,  1863. 


COMPANY    B. 


Charles  E.  Holbrook 
Lane,  Clement  G-.    . 


Abbott,  Warren 
Bundy,  Amasa  T.    . 
Keyes,  George  A.   . 
Knapp,  Charles  H. . 
Sherman,  George  A. 

Willis,  Paul  S. 


Command  6th  div.,  invalid  detachment,  Emory  Hospital,  Washington, 

D.C.,  1863. 
Military  detective,  Washington,  D.C.,  Dec.  1,  1863.    Baggage-master, 

Chesapeake  Hospital,  Fortress  Monroe,  July,  1864,  to  June,  1865. 

Ambulance-corps  from  June,  1864. 

Cook,  brigade  headquarters,  Savannah,  Ga.,  1865. 

Clerk,  recruiting-depot,  Concord,  N.H. 

Clerk,  commissary  musters,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Jan.,  1865. 

Guard  at  provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  D.C.,  1863.     Guard, 

brigade  headquarters  from  Aug.,  1864,  to  Feb.,  1865. 
Guard  at  provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  D.C.,  1863. 


404 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  II.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    C. 


NAME. 


Nature  of  Detail. 


Ira  Berry,  jun. 
Carroll  D.  Wright 


Charles  H.  Gove 
Slyfield,  Franklin 


At  Central  Guard-House,  Washington,  D.C.,  June,  1863,  to  Jan.,  1864. 
Charge  of  camp  distribution,  Savannah,  Ga.,  April,  May,  and 
June,  1865. 

Assistant  acting  commissary  of  subsistence,  Poolesville,  Md.,  March 
and  April,  1863.  At  Central  Guard-House,  Washington,  D.C., 
May  26  to  June  29,  1863.  On  staff  Brig.-Gen.  Martindale,  military 
governor,  Washington,  D.C.,  June  29  to  Nov.  7,  1863.  Acting 
assistant  adjutant-gtneral,  district  of  Carrollton,  La.,  April  23  to 
May  31,  1864.  A.  A.  A.  G.,  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.  C.,  June  29 
to  Dec.  28,  1864.  At  draft-rendezvous,  Trenton,  N.J.,  Jan.  22  to 
March  6,  1865. 

Commissary  department  under  Capt.  Goddard,  Oct.,  1863. 

Brigade  teamster,  Aug.,  1864. 


COMPANY  D. 


Caleb  W.  Hodgdon 
John  N.  Bruce 

John  W.  Locke 
Josiah  Gove     . 

Beale,  Sumner 

Breed,  Enoch  W.  . 
Coult,  Stephen  C.  . 
Day,  Henry  C. 
Haladay,  George  C. 
Swett,  George  W.  . 
Terrill,  Benjamin  F. 
Wiggin,  Thomas  J. 


General  court-martial,  Washington,  D.C.,  July  11, 1863;  judge-advo 
cate,  April  1  to  Sept.  21,  1864. 

Chief  military  defectives,  Washington,  D.C.,  from  Dec.  1,  1863,  to 
Feb.  21,  1864.  Ordnance  officer,  staff  Gen.  D.  C.  Roberts,  Carroll- 
ton,  La.,  May  and  June,  1864. 

Military  detective,  Washington,  D.C.,  from  Dec.  1,  1863,  to  Feb.  21, 
1864. 

Clerk,  general  court-martial,  Washington,  D.C.,  July,  1863;  clerk, 
A.  A.  A.  G.,l8t  brig.,2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,Morganzia,  La.,  July,  1864. 

Mounted  orderly,  Gen.  Martindale's  headquarters,  Washington,  D.C., 

Sept.  17.  1863. 

Clerk,  district  of  Carrollton,  La.,  May  and  June,  1864. 
Guard,  brigade  headquarters,  from  Aug.,  1864,  to  June,  1865. 
Cook,  brigade  headquarters,  Aug.,  1864. 
Teamster,  supply-train,  Aug.,  1864. 

Guard,  provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  D.C.,  1863. 
Cook,  brigade  headquarters,  from  Nov.,  1864. 
Clerk,  examining-board  signal-corps,  Washington,  D.C.,  May  12, 1863. 


COMPANY  E. 


William  Cobleigh    . 
Franklin  Wheeler  . 


Folsom,  Stephen  P. 
Lary,  Andrew  J.     . 


General  court-martial,  Washington,  D.C.,  May  to  July,  1863;  acting 

adjutant,  July  15  to  Dec.  3,  1864. 
Acting  assistant  quartermaster,  camp  distribution,  Savannah,  Ga., 

Feb.  10  to  June  23,  1865. 

At  Soldiers'  Rest,  Washington,  D.C.,  in  1863. 
At  Soldiers'  Rest,  eight  months. 


COMPANY  F. 


Theodore  A.  Ripley 

George  G.  Martin   . 

Farr,  Wesley  O.      . 
Holbrook,  George  B. 
Stoddard,  James  S. 
Ward,  George  P.     . 
Wright,  L.  Warren 


Recruiting-service,  Dec.  14, 1863.  On  Gen.  B.  S.  Roberts's  staff,  Car 
rollton,  La.,  May  to  June,  1864.  A.A.I. G.  on  Gen.  Birge's  staff, 
Aug.  18  to  Sept.  20,  1864. 

Recruiting-service,  Dec.  14,  1863. 

Recruiting-service,  Dec.  14,  1863. 

Clerk  at  brigade  headquarters,  Feb.,  1864,  to  July,  1865. 

Recruiting-service,  Dec.  14,  1863. 

Guard  at  Gen.  Grover's  headquarters,  Dec.,  1864,  to  June,  1865. 

Acting  provost-marshal,  Carrollton,  La.,  May,  1864. 


SPECIAL  DETAILS. 


405 


TABLE  II.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    G. 


NAME. 


Nature  of  Detail. 


Solon  A.  Carter 
C.  Fred  Webster 


Spencer  L.  Bailey  . 
Flavel  L.  Tolman    . 

John  W.  Sturtevant 


James  W.  Russell  . 
Edward  B.  Howard 

Samuel  L.  Gerould 


Allen,  Calvin,  jun.  . 
Frost,  John     . 


Greenwood,  Leroy  P. 
Hill,  Horace  J. 
Jillson,  Almon  L.    . 
Lettenmayer,  Otto  . 

Morey,  Albert  L.     . 
Parker,  William  II. 

Pierce,  Albert  S.     . 
Robb,  William  P.    . 

Ryan,  John 
Scott,  James  II. 

Willard,  Lucius  S.  . 
Wright,  Daniel 


Recruiting-service  at  Concord,  N.H.,  July,  1863.    A.  A.  A.  G.,  staff 

Brlg.-Gen.  Edward  W.  Hinks. 
Acting  adjutant,  Nov.  6,  1862;  acting  quartermaster,  Nov.  13,  1862,  to 

Oct.  25,  1863.     Brig.  Q.  M.,  Carrollton,  La.,  May,  1864.     Post  Q.M., 

Morganzia,  La.,  June  10  to  July  5,  1864.    In  charge  wagon-train, 

2d  div.,   19th  A.  C.,   Sept.  and  Oct.,  1864.    Assistant  post  Q.  M., 

Savannah,  Ga.,  March  20  to  July  8,  1865. 
A.  A.C.  S.,  Grover's  brigade,  Adder  Hill,  Md.,  Nov.  1,  1862. 
Central  Guard-House,  Washington,  D.C.,  July,  1863.     With  Co.  E, 

Pioneers,  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,  Sept.,  1864. 
Command  detachment  Sixth-street  Wharf,  Washington,  D.C.,  May  9 

to   Nov.  8,1863.    Adjutant  provost  marshal's   office,   Washington, 

D.C.,  Nov.  8,  1863,  to  Feb.  6,  1864.     A.D.C.,  staff  Brig-Gen.  B.  8. 

Roberts,  Carrollton,  La.,  April,   1864.      Provost-marshal,  district 

Carrollton,  La.,  May,  1864. 

A.  A.  C.  S.,  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,  June,  1865,  Savannah,  Ga. 
On  duty  at  draft-rendezvous,  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Feb.,  March,  and 

April,  1865. 
Clerk,  general  court-martial,  Washington,  D.C.,  Oct.  2, 1863,  to  Feb.  9, 

1865.     Signal-corps,  Poolesville,  Md.,  Dec.  24,  1862.    Clerk,  brig. 

A.  C.  S.,  Poolesville,  Md.,  April  18,  1863. 

City  police,  Savannah,  Ga.,  from  April  8  to  June  6,  1865. 

Orderly  at  court-martial  rooms,  Washington,  D.C.,  Oct.  21,  1863,  to 

Dec.  18, 1863.     Messenger  quartermaster-general's  office,  Dec.  19, 

1863,  to  June  12,  1885. 

Sharpshooter  during  the  Valley  campaign,  1864. 
Orderly  at  ordnance-office,  Savannah,  Ga.,  June,  1865. 
Bugler,  and  at  Finley  Hospital,  Washington,  D.C.,  Oct.,  1863. 
Cook,  brigade  headquarters.     Orderly,  Seventh-street  court-martial 

rooms,  Washington,  D.C.,  1863. 

Orderly,  headquarters  district  Carrollton,  La.,  April,  1864. 
Orderly,  Gen.  Augur's  headquarters,  Washington,  D.C.,  April,  1863. 

Hooker's  headquarters  to  April  23,  1865. 
Orderly,  headquarters  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,Nov.  27  to  Dec.  24, 

1864. 
Signal-corps,    Poolesville,  Md.,  Dec.  24,  1862.     Ambulance-driver, 

April,  1863. 

Orderly,  headquarters  2d  div.,  19th  A.  C.,  Savannah,  Ga.,  May,  1865. 
Military  detective,  Washington,  D.C.,  Oct.,  1863,  and  Savannah,  Ga., 

June,  1865. 

Clerk,  camp  distribution,  Alexandria,  Va.,  Sept.,  1864,  to  June,  1865. 
Teamster,  headquarters  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.  C.,  1864  and  1865. 


COMPANY    H. 


Walter  H.  Sargent  . 
David  A.  Macurdy  . 
Marcus  M.  Holmes  . 
George  F.  Blanchard 

Bell,  Robert     . 

Brown,  Joseph 
Chamberlain,  Alonzo  P. 

Emerson,  John  R.  . 
Norwood,  John  E.  . 
Ward,  James  O.  . 


Recruiting-service  at  Concord,  N.H.,  July  3,  1863. 
Acting  quartermaster,  provisional  battalion,  Aug.,  1864. 
Command  refugee-camp,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Jan.  to  July,  1865. 
Central  Guard-House,  Washington,  D.C. 

Duty  at  headquarters  Washburn's  brigade,  Savannah,  Ga.,  June 

12,  1865. 

Clerk,  headquarters  Dept.  of  the  South,  Savannah,  Ga.,  June  10, 1865. 
Ward  assistant,  McClellan  Hospital,  Philadelphia,  Jan.  23  to  May 

30,  1865. 

Guard  at  Gen.  Birge's  headquarters,  Aug.,  1864. 
Camp  distribution,  Savannah,  Ga.,  May  10  to  July  6,  1865. 
Guard  at  War  Department,  Washington,  D.C.,  July,  1863. 


406 


FOURTEENTH   NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  II.  —  Concluded. 
COMPANY    I. 


NAME. 


Nature  of  Detail. 


Ransom  Huntoon    . 

George  H.  Stowell  . 
Cumings,  Charles  B. 
Benjamin  Whittaker 
William  Wallace  . 
Henry  C.  Mace 
Eben  W.  Parker  . 

Chapman,  James  H. 
Dodge,  Simeon  S.  . 
Foster,  Charles  E.  . 
Hall,  Lev!  D.,jun.  . 
Howard,  Waldo  L. 
Howard,  Wilbur  F. 
Miller,  Jonathan,  jun. 


Smith,  Arthur  T.    . 
Woodward,  Charles 


Command  guard  Sanitary  Commission,  Washington,  D.C.,  July  9  to 

Sept.  9,  1863. 

Recruiting-service,  Concord,  N.H.,  July  20,  1863,  .to  Jan.  29,  1864. 
Military  detective,  Washington,  D.C.,  Dec.  1,  1863. 
Sharpshooter,  Sept.,  1864. 
Detached  duty,  Concord,  N.H.,  Feb.  22,  1864. 
Guard,  brigade  headquarters,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Jan.  to  June,  1865. 
To  organize  drum-corps,  2d  U.  8.  C.T.,  Washington,  Dec.,  Sept.,  1863. 

Ambulance-corps,  Oct.  20,  1864. 

Carpenter  at  headquarters  district  of  Carrollton,  La.,  May,  1864. 

Provost-marshal's  office,  Washington,  D.C.,  July,  1863,  to  Feb.,  1864. 

Cook,  headquarters  1st  brig.,  2d  div.,  19th  A.C.,  July,  1864,  to  July,  1865. 

Orderly,  military  commission,  Washington,  D.C.,  1863. 

Orderly,  military  commission,  Washington,  D.C.,  Dec.  7,  1863. 

Clerk,  military  commission,  Jan.  4  to  Feb.  7,  1864.  Clerk,  brigade 
headquarters,  Carrollton,  La.,  April  10  to  June  7,  1864.  Clerk, 
brigade  headquarters,  Shenandoah  Valley,  Aug.  17  to  Oct.  19,  7864. 

Clerk  in  P.  O.,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Feb.  to  July,  1865. 

Guard,  headquarters  1st  div.,  19th  A.  C.,  Jan.  4  to  June,  1865. 


COMPANY   K. 


George  N.  French  . 

J.  Marcellus  Smith . 
Fellows,  Benjamin  F. 
Fowler,  Trueworthy 
Page,  Henry  P. 


Clerk,  headquarters  1st  div.,  Dept.  W.  Va.,  Feb.  8,  1862,  to  Feb.  26, 
1864.  Headquarters  military  district,  Washington,  D  C.,  Feb.  26, 
1864,  to  May  6, 1865.  War  Dept.,  A.G.O.,  May  6, 1865,  till  discharge. 

Musician,  U.  S.  General  Hospital,  Claysville,  Md.,  Nov.  8,  1864. 

Detective,  Washington,  D.C.,  Dec.  1,  1863.  Special  police,  Carroll- 
ton,  La.,  May  16,  1864. 

Post-Office  clerk,  Savannah,  Ga.,  Feb.  1,1865.  Mail-messenger,  Gen. 
Grover's  headquarters,  April  10,  1865. 

Commandant  of  guard,  Camp  McClellan,  Davenport,  la.,  Oct.  7, 1864. 


PROMOTIONS. 


407 


TABLE    III. 

PROMOTIONS. 

FIELD,    STAFF,    AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


NAME. 


Promotions  and  Dates  of  Same. 


Samuel  A.  Duncan 

Alexander  Gardiner 
William  H.  Bryant. 
Albert  F.  Hussey  . 
George  D.  Richardson 


Colonel  4th  U.S.C.T.,  Sept.  4,  1863.    Brigadier-General  by  brevet, 

Oct.  28,  1864.    Major-General  by  brevet,  March  13,  1865. 
Major,  Sept.  12,  1863.     Colonel,  Sept.  12,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  D,  Sept.  20,  '63.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  Feb.  19,  '64. 
First  Lieut.,  Co.  K,  Nov.  22,  1864. 
First  Lieut.,  Co.  B,  Jan.  4, 1864. 


COMPANY    A. 


Charles  P.  Hall,  1st  Lieut. 

SERGEANTS. 
Russell  F.  Smith     . 

Jesse  A.  Fisk  . 

CORPORALS. 
Holland  Wheeler     . 
Charles  C.Wilson  . 
Jewett  P.  Wellman 

MUSICIAN. 
Henry  M.  Staples    . 

PRIVATES. 
Brock,  Charles  E.  . 
Carroll,  Horace 
Greenwood,  E.  Tyler 
Hall,  Franklin  J.  . 
Holden,  Leonard  S. 
Holt,  Samuel  P. 
King,  John  L.  , 

Knowlton,  Luke,  jun. 
Leach,  Samuel  I.     . 
Lewis,  George  W.  . 
Liscom,  L.  Frank    . 

Mason,  James  B.     . 
Peeler,  Charles  A.  . 
Pierce,  Almon  G.    . 
Wardwell,  George  O. 
Welch,  Michael 


Captain,  Co.  C,  Feb.  20, 1864. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  D,  Feb.  26, 1864     Captain,  Co.  E,  April  21, 1865. 

Not  mustered. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  Jan.  12,  1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  K,  May  27,  '64. 


Sergeant,  Jan.  27, 1864. 
Sergeant,  Feb.  27,  1864. 
Sergeant,  May  1, 1865. 


Principal  musician,  Oct.  31,  1864. 

Corporal,  July  1, 1864. 

Corporal,  May  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  Jan.  23,  1863. 

Corporal,  April  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  Nov.  23, 1864.    Sergeant,  April  11,  1865. 

Corporal,  July  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Oct.  6, 1862.    Sergeant,  July  1,  1864.    Sergeant-Maj  or,  Dec. 

1,  1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  C,  Jan.  4,  1865. 
Corporal,  Nov.  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864.    Sergeant,  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  May  1, 1864.    Sergeant,  Dec.  1, 1864.    First  Sergeant,  April 

Transferred  and  promoted  to  First  Lieut.,  31st  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Feb.  14, 1864. 

Corporal,  July  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  27,  1864.    First  Sergeant,  Co.  C,  May  1, 1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  May  1, 1865. 


COMPANY    B. 


Charles  E.  Holbrook,  2d  Lt.  .    First  Lieut.,  May  5,  1863. 


SERGEANTS. 
Henry  E.  Barrett,  Is* 
Henry  Knight . 


Second  Lieut.,  April  4, 1863. 
First  Sergeant,  May  1,  1863. 


408 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
TABLE  III.  —  COMPANY  B  —  Continued. 


NAME. 


Promotions  and  Dates  of  Same. 


CORPORALS. 
Austin  H.  Wolf 
Albert  H.  Tyrell     . 

PRIVATES. 
Adams,  Norman  L. 
Brown,  Charles  H. . 
Brackett,  Freeman  E.     . 
Leland,  Van  Buren 
Marshall,  Harlan  P. 
Sherman,  George  A. 
SpooiKT,  Stephen  A. 
Shepard,  Harvey  E. 
Templeman,  Elnathan  R. 


Sergeant,  May  1,  1863.    First  Sergeant,  Feb.  1,  1865. 
Sergeant,  May  1,  1863. 


Corporal,  April  14, 1864. 

Corporal,  May  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  April  22,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1863. 

Corporal,  June  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  May  1,  1863.     Sergeant,  Feb.  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  May  1,  1863. 

Corporal,  June  19,  1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  1,  1865. 


COMPANY  C. 


Ira  Berry,  jun.,  1st  Lt.    . 
Carroll  L>.  Wright,  2d  Lt. 

SERGEANTS. 
Daniel  K.  Healey    . 

J.  Henry  Jenks 
Luther  M.  Parker    . 
George  H.  Stone 

CORPORALS. 
Reuben  H.  Combs  . 
Ceylon  8.  Davis 
George  W.  Felch     . 

PRIVATES. 
Barber,  John   . 
Collins,  William      . 
Gilmore,  Charles  G. 
Holman,  Thomas  F. 
Runt,  Nathaniel  P.  . 
Ward,  Harrison  R. 
Whitcomb,  Wright 


Captain,  Co.  H,  Oct.  1,  1863. 

Adjutant,  Dec.  4,  1863.    Colonel,  Dec.  6,  1864. 


Second  Lieut.,  6th  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Aug.  27,  1863.    First  Lieut.,  6th  U.  S. 

C.  T.,  Oct.  13,  1864. 
Sergeant-Major,  Sept.  20,  1863. 
First  Sergeant,  Nov.  20,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  I,  Oct.  30, 1863.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  I,  May  27,  1864. 


Sergeant,  Jan.  17, 1864. 
Sergeant,  June  15,  1863. 
First  Sergeant,  June  12,  1864. 


Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1864. 
Sergeant,  Jan.  17,  1864. 
Corporal,  Jan.  17,  1864. 
Corporal,  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  June  15,  1863. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Sept.  20,  1863. 


COMPANY  D. 


Stark  Fellows,  1st  Lt. 

SERGEANTS. 
Elbridge  D.  Hadley,  1st 

John  N.  Bruce 
Joseph  V.  Bowie     . 

CORPORALS. 
John  W.  Locke 
.Moses  Wadleigh      . 
Thomas  J.  Wiggin . 

PRIVATES. 

Beckman,  Francis   .        , 
Bruce,  John  R. 
Chase,  Derwin  W.  . 
Collins,  Augustine  W.    . 
Cilly,  Otis  G.   . 
Hastings,  Charles    . 
Titcomb,  Henry  II. 
Wilson,  Stephen  M. 


Colonel,  2d  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Sept.  4, 1863. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  Feb.  12, 1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  July  6,  1864. 

Not  mustered.     Captain  by  brevet,  July  24,  1868. 
First  Lieut.,  Co.  C,  Oct.  1,  1863.    Captain,  Co.  E,  Jan.  4, 1865. 
First  Sergeant,  Feb.  27,  1864. 


Sergeant,  Feb.  27, 1864. 

Sergeant,  1863.    Com. -Sergeant,  Feb.  1, 1865. 

Sergeant  United  States  Signal-Corps,  June  1, 1865. 


Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864.    Sergeant,  March  1, 1865. 

Corporal,  Co.  C,  Jan.  1, 1864. 

Corporal. 

Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864. 

Corporal,  April  1,  ]8t>3. 

Hospital  Steward,  March  1, 1865. 

Corporal,  Oct.  31,  1864. 

Corporal,  March  1,  1863. 


PROMOTIONS. 


409 


TABLE  III.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY  E. 


NAME. 


Promotions  and  Dates  of  Same. 


William  Cobleigh,  1st,  Lt. 

SERGEANTS. 

Franklin  Wheeler,  1st    . 
Hiram  J.  Rounds     . 

CORPORALS. 
Thomas  J.  Lary 
David  S.  Harvey      . 
William  A.  Willis  . 

PRIVATES. 
Bartlett,  George  S. . 
Crawford,  Bryant  E. 
Dow,  Aldin  A. 
Eastman,  Darius  Or. 
Evans,  Edwin  F. 
Evans,  John  C. 
Gond,  George  S.      . 
Grey,  Jared 
Hawkins,  Thomas  A. 
Johnson,  William  W.     . 
Lary,  Andrew  J. 
Lovejoy,  John  B.     .        . 
JN' assure,  Erastus     . 
Stone,  Munroe  J.     . 
Wallace,  Asahel  K. 


Captain,  Co.  I,  Nov.  22, 1864. 


Second  Lieut.,  Co.  C,  Feb.  26, 1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  Dec.  1, 1864. 
First  Sergeant,  Feb.  27,  1894. 


Sergeant,  Aug.  2,  1863. 
Sergeant,  Nov.  1,  1864. 
Sergeant,  Feb.  27, 1864.  First  Sergeant,  April  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  May  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  Jan.  22,  1863. 

Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1865.    Sergeant,  April  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  June  8,  1865. 

Corporal,  May  19,  1865. 

Corporal,  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  22,  1863. 

Corporal,  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  22,  1863. 

Corporal,  Nov.  1.  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  22,  1863.    Sergeant,  Sept.  14, 1864. 


COMPANY    F. 


Theodore  A.  Ripley,  Capt.    . 
William  A.  Fosgate,  2d  Lieut. 

SERGEANTS. 

John  H.  Goodwin,  1st    . 
Artemas  B.  Colburn 

CORPORALS. 
Charles  G.  Howard 
U.  Barrett  Fosgate  . 

PRIVATES. 
Allen,  Moses    . 
Ball,  Charles  A.       . 
Buffum,  Francis  H. 

Day,  George  A. 
Farr,  Wesley  O. 
Murdock,  Verwill  Q.  D. 
Newell,  Benjamin,  jun.  . 
Smith,  Edward  O.  . 
Stoddard,  James  S. 
Thompson,  Daniel  H.     .        . 
Wood,  Henry  A.     . 
Wright,  L.  Warren 


Colonel,  March  24,  1865.    Not  mustered. 

First  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  Nov.  2,  1863.    Captain,  Co.  B,  Feb.  19,  1864. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  Feb.  17,  1865.    Not  mustered. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  B,  May  11,  1864. 

Color-Sergeant,  July,  1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  A,  Jan.  4,  1865. 
Sergeant,  March  6,  1864. 

Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1862. 

Corporal,  March  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  1,  1864.    Sergeant,  March.  1,  1865.    Color-Sergeant, 

March  2,  1865. 

Principal  Musician,  March.  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Feb.  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  May  1,  1863. 
Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1862. 
Corporal,  May  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  Sept.  26, 1863.    Sergeant,  Feb.  12,  1864. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Sergeant,  Aug.  1,  1863.     Second  Lieut.,  Co.  A,  Feb.  19,  1864;   1st 

Lieut,,  Nov.  22,  1864;  Adjutant,  Jan.  4,  1865. 


COMPANY    G. 


Solon  A.  Carter,  Capt.   . 
C.  Fred  Webster,  1st  Lieut. 


Captain  and  A.  A.  G.,  IT.  S.  V.,  July  25,  1864.    Major  by  brevet,  and 

Lieut.-Colonel  by  brevet,  March  13,  1865. 
First  Lieut,  and  R.  Q.M.,  Oct.  16,  1863. 


410 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
TABLE  III.  —  COMPANY  G  —  Continued. 


NAME. 


Promotions  and  Dates  of  Same. 


SERGEANTS. 
Flavel  L.  Tolman,  1st. 

John  W.  Sturtevant 
James  W.  Russell  . 
Edward  B.  Howard 


CORPORALS. 
Chamberlain,  Maro  J. 
Cragin,  Charles  O.  . 

Emery,  Charles  D.  . 
Hunt,  James  H. 

PRIVATES. 
J.  Kerry  Sullivan  . 
Leathers,  John 

Law,  Charles  D.      . 

Lowe,  George  F.  . 
Prescott,  Oren  D.  . 
Reed,  J.  Langdon  . 
Shedd,  Granville  . 
Turner,  Henry  A.  . 
Cutter,  Edwin  R.  . 
Hazen,  George  W. . 
Learned,  Lewis  D.  . 
Learned,  Marion  D. 
Mcrritield,  Charles  B. 
Parker,  William  H. 

Pierce,  Albert  S.     . 
Poole,  Joel  H.  . 
Rice,  John  C.  . 
Richardson,  Herbert  C. 
Smith,  Samuel  M.    . 


Second  Lieut.,  March  1, 1863.    First  Lieut.,  Oct.  17,  1863.    Captain, 

Co.  E,  Jan.  1,  1864.    Major,  Dec.  6,  1864. 
First  Sergeant,  May  1,   1863,     Second  Lieut.,  Oct.  17,  1863.     First 

Lieut.,  Jan.  1,  1864.    Captain,  Jan.  4,  1865. 
Commissary  Sergeant,  May  1,  1863.     Second  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  Jan.  4, 

1865.     First  Lieut.,  Co.  I,  Feb.  17,  1865.    Not  mustered. 
First  Sergeant,  Oct.  29,  1863.     Second  Lieut.,  Jan.  1,  1864.    First 

Lieut.,  Jan.  4,  1865.    Not  mustered. 


Sergeant,  Nov.  30,  1862.    Captain  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Aug.  1,  1863. 
Sergeant,  May  1,  1863.     First  Sergeant,  Feb.  27, 1864.     Second  Lieut., 

Jan.  4,  1865.    Not  mustered.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  D,  Feb.  17,  1865. 
Sergeant,  Aug.  4,  1863. 
Sergeant,  Nov.  14,  1863.    First  Sergeant,  March  1,  1865.    Second 

Lieut.,  May  2,  1865. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  H.    Not  mustered. 

Corporal,  Nov.  30,  1862.    Sergeant,  Oct.  29,  1863.     Sergeant-Major, 

March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  May  2,  1863.    Sergeant,  March  1,  1864.     First  Sergeant, 

May  2,  1865. 

Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1864.     Sergeant,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Aug.  1,  1863.     Sergeant,  Feb.  27,  1864. 
Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1864.     Sergeant,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1864.     Sergeant,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  April  22,  1864.    Sergeant,  May  2,  1865. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Feb.  27,  1864. 
Corporal,  Oct.  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  Sept.  1,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.,  6th  U.  S.  Infantry,  April  23,  1865.    First  Lieut,  by 

brevet,  Jan.  2,  1866. 
Corporal,  Dec.  25,  1864. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  May  2,  1865. 
Captain  U.  S.  C.  T.,  Feb.  29,  1864. 


COMPANY    H. 


Walter  H.  Sargent,  2d  Lieut. 

SERGEANTS. 
David  A.  Macurdy,  1st  . 

Marcus  M.  Holmes  . 
George  F.  Blanchard 

CORPORALS. 
Albert  A.  Baker      . 
Charles  F.  Heath     . 
Daniel  P.  Kilburn  . 

PRIVATES. 
Bailey,  Amos  C.      . 
Barnard,  George  M. 
Chamberlain,  Alonzo  P. 
Emerson,  John  R.  . 
Gale,  Solomon  G.    . 
Macurdy,  Matthew. 
Morse,  John  D. 
Parker,  William  P. 


First  Lieut.,  Co.  D,  Nov.  1,  1863. 


Second  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  Nov.  1, 1863.     First  Lieut.,  Co.  B,  June,  1864. 

Captain,  Co.  B,  Dec.  22,  1864. 
First  Sergeant,  Jan.  20,  1864.     Second  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  Sept.  19,  1864. 

First  Lieut.,  Co.  H,  Dec.  2,  1864. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  C,  Sept.  22,  1863.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  Feb.  19, 

1864.    Captain,  Co.  A,  Nov.  22,  1864. 

Sergeant,  Jan.  20,  1864. 
Sergeant,  Oct.  1, 1864. 
Sergeant,  Jan.  30,  1864. 


Corporal,  Sept.  20,  1864. 
Corporal,  Jan.  20,  1864.    Sergeant,  Oct. 
Corporal,  April  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  June  1,  1865. 
Sergeant,  Jan.  20,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  20,  1864.     Sergeant,  April  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  May  1, 1863.    Sergeant,  Sept.  20, 1864.    First  Sergeant,  Dec. 
2,  1864. 


PROMOTIONS. 
TABLE  III.  —  COMPANY  H  —  Concluded. 


411 


NAME. 

Promotions 

and 

Dates 

of  Same. 

PRIVATES. 
Poor,  Wilson  E. 
Saltmarsh,  Alonzo  P. 
Sanborn,  Henry  M. 
Tucker,  George  W. 
Wheeler,  Robert  E. 
Wilson,  Leonard 


Corporal,  Oct.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  1, 1865. 

Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Jan.  20,  1864. 

Corporal,  Oct.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1864.     Sergeant,  March  1,  1865. 


COMPANY    I. 


Nathaniel  L.  Chandler,  Lieut. 

SERGEANTS. 
Henry  8.  Paul. 
Asa  W.  Richardson 
William  W.  Page    . 
Thorn  is  J.  Morrill  . 

CORPORALS. 
Benjamin  F.  Pierce 
Hiram  K.  Darling   . 

George  S.  Jones 

PRIVATES. 
Cumings,  Charles  B. 
Foster,  Charles  E.   . 
Gault,  John  S. 
Lane,  Marcus  M. 
Mace,  Henry  C. 
Mullen,  Hugh  .... 
Newton,  Clough 
Page,  John  M.          ... 
Peasley,  George  W. 
Stowell,  George  H. . 
Wallace,  William    . 
Whittaker,  Benjamin 


Captain,  Co.  A,  June  18, 1864. 

Second  Lieut.,  Co.  A,  Jan.  1, 1864.    First  Lieut.,  Co.  A,  Feb.  19,  '64. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  E,  June  22,  1864.    First  Lieut.  Co.  F,  Jau.  4,  1865. 
First  Sergeant,  June  17,  1864. 
First  Sergeant,  Jan.  1, 1865. 


Sergeant,  Jan.  26, 1864. 
Sergeant,  Jan.  1,  1865. 
Sergeant,  Feb.  1,  1865. 


Corporal,  July  1,  1864.    Sergeant,  June  2, 1865. 

Sergeant,  Jan.  1,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  17,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  17,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  8,  1865. 

Corporal,  June  2,  1865. 

Corporal,  Jan.  1,  1865. 

Corporal,  June  17,  1864. 

Corporal,  June  2,  1865. 

Corporal,  Feb.  25,  1863.    Sergeant,  June  16, 1864. 

Corporal,  Feb.  1,  18(55. 

Corporal,  Sept.  20,  1864. 


COMPANY    K. 


Oliver  H.  Marston,  Capt. 
Moulton  S.  Webster,  2rf  Lieut. 

SERGEANT. 
Octavius  C.  Mason  . 

CORPORALS. 
Lemuel  F.  Vittum  . 
Samuel  F.  Beede  . 

PRIVATES. 

Bennett,  William  H.  H. . 
Brown,  Warren  J.  .        .        . 
Cofran,  Charles  N. 
Fellows,  Benjamin  F. 
Fife,  Thomas  H. 
Fowler,  Trueworthy 
Glidden,  George  M. 
Gove,  John  M.         . 
Page,  Henry  P. 
Quimby,  William  F. 

Robinson,  Frank  P. 
Smith,  Daniel  M.     . 
Smith,  Lewis  Q. 
Smith,  Samuel  S.     .        .        . 
Stone,  George  W.    . 


Lieut. -Colonel,  March  24,  1865. 

First  Lieut.,  Co.  B,  Nov.  22, 1864.    Not  mustered. 


First  Sergeant,  June  23,  1864.    Second  Lieut.,  Jan.  2,  1865.    Captain, 
June  7,  1865.    Not  mustered. 

Sergeant,  Dec.  1, 1864. 
Sergeant,  June  17,  1864. 


Corporal,  Nov.  10,  1863. 

Corporal,  June  17,  1864. 

Corporal,  Dec.  1,  1864. 

Quartermaster-sergeant,  Dec.  3,  1864. 

Corporal. 

Corporal,  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Corporal. 

Corporal,  June  1,  1865. 

Sergeant.     First  Sergeant.     Second  Lieut.,  Co.  I,  May  27,  1864. 

Corporal,  Sept.  24,  1862.     Sergeant,  Nov.  1,  1863.     Second  Lieut.,  Co. 

B,  Jan.  4,  1865.     Not  mustered. 
Corporal,  May  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Corporal,  May  1,  1864. 
Corporal,  June  25,  1864. 
Corporal,  June  1,  1863. 


412 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IV. 

DEATHS   BY   DISEASE. 

FIELD,  STAFF,  AND  NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Where  Buried. 

Franklin  C.  "Weeks 

IST.E.  R.  N.Y.City, 

March  28,  1864, 

Diphtheria 

Chester. 

Milton  S.  Howe     . 
Total        .        .       2 

Offutt'flC.R'ds,Md. 

Nov.    24,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

East  Jaffrey. 

COMPANY  A. 


SERGEANTS. 

Fred.  L.  Thomas,  1st    . 

Woodstock,  Va.    . 

Oct.       1,  1864, 

Phys.  exhaust. 

Natl.  Cem.,  Winches 

ter,  Va.,  No.  1196. 

Almon  G.  Pierce,  1st    . 

Carrollton,  La. 

June      8,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Dublin. 

CORPORAL. 

Asaph  W.  Pierce  . 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 

Jan.     21,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Dublin. 

PRIVATES. 

Carruth,  Thomas  H.     . 

Carrollton,  La. 

June    14,1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Carrollton,  La. 

Chamberlain,  Ira  B. 

Hilton  Head,  B.C.  . 

22,  1865, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1404. 

Crowninshield,  A.  C.    . 

Philadelphia,  P.    . 

Nov.      6,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

N.Cem.,  Philadelphia, 

Penn.,  No.  113. 

Crowninshield,  Daniel, 

Salisbury,  N.C.      . 

28,  1864, 

Starvation 

Natl  Cem.,  Salisbury, 

N.C. 

Dunn,  Noble  T.     . 

Keene     .. 

Sept.     8,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Woodlawn  C.,  Keene. 

Evans,  Stephen  W. 

Richmond,  Va. 

Nov.    28,  1864, 

Unknown 

N'l  Cem.,  Richmond, 

Va.,  No.  358. 

Holt,  Russell  T.    . 
Keith,  Fay     . 

Washington,  D.C. 
Jefferson  Bar.,  Mo. 

June    21,  1863, 
Sept.     9,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever, 
Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Sullivan. 
N'l  C.,  Jefferson  Bar., 

Mo.,  No.  3385. 

Knowlton,  Charles 
Leach,  Albert  G.  . 

Poolesville,  Md.    . 
Washington,  D.C. 

Jan.     20,  1863, 
May     31,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 
Typhoid-fever, 

Marlborough. 
East  Westmoreland. 

Leach,  Charles  H.         . 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 

Jan.     23,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 

East  Westmoreland. 

Nims,  Edwin  I.     . 

Offutt'sC.Rd's.Md. 

Dec.     17,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Sullivan. 

Policy,  Gilbert  C. 

Washington,  D.C. 

Nov.    18,1863, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Hinsdale. 

Bpaulding,  Henry  D.    . 

Natchez,  Miss. 

July     11,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Natchez, 

Miss.,  No.  120. 

Starkey,  William  S.      . 

Washington,  D.C. 

May     13,  1863, 

PL-pneumonia, 

Westmoreland. 

Total        .        .     18 

COMPANY  B. 


CORPORAL. 

William  R.  Dunham     . 

Marlow  . 

Jan.     10,  1865, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Marlow. 

PRIVATES. 

Barker,  William  A. 
Bosworth,  William  J. 

Washington,  D.C. 
Washington,  D.C. 

July    28,  1863, 
Jan.     19,  1864, 

Typhoid  -fever, 
Pneumonia 

Wai  pole. 
Springfield,  Vt. 

Bragg,  Willard  E.  S. 

Washington,  D.C. 

Aug.    19,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Natl.  Cem.  .Arlington 

Va.,  No.  8319. 

French,  Henry  C.  . 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 

Feb.     16,  1863, 

Measles. 

Gates,  Benjamin,  2d 

Washington,  D.C. 

Dec.     14,  1803, 

Heart-disease  . 

Walpole. 

Gee,  Samuel  O.     . 

David's  Isl'd,  N.Y. 

Sept.   30,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

N'lCem.,Cypres8Hill, 

N.Y.,  No.  1970. 

DEATHS  BY  DISEASE. 
TABLE  IV.  —  COMPANY  B  —  Continued. 


413 


NAMB. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Where  Buried. 

Haeham,  John 
Hooper,  Henry  H. 
Livingston,  Edward  H 

Washington,  B.C. 
Walpole 
Pook-sville,  Md.     . 

July    31,  1863, 
Dec.     31,  1864, 
Feb.     16,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 
("'hr.  diarrhoea, 
Measles. 

Charlestown. 
Walpole. 
Walpole. 

Pierce,  Jacob  8.     . 

Walpole 

Dec.     27,1863, 

Consumption  . 

Walpole. 

Putnam,  Orson  D. 

Natchez,  Miss. 

July    22,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea. 

Richardson,  Levi  Q-. 

New-  York  City     . 

Aug.    22,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

N.  Cera.,  Cypress  Hill, 
N.Y.,  No.  2083. 

Bhepard,  Harvey  E. 

Libby  Prison,  Rich 
mond,  Va.  . 

Nov.    20,  1864, 

Diphtheria. 

Tyler,  William  E. 

Washington,  B.C. 

May     29,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever. 

Total        .        .     15 

COMPANY    C. 


Luther  M.  Parker,  Sergt. 

Savannah,  Ga. 

June   30,1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Natl.  Cem.  .Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  4898. 

Brooks,  Amos  W. 

Annapolis  Jet.,  Md. 

Jan.     14,  1865, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Fitzwilliam. 

Doolittle,  Edward 

Poolesville,  Md.    . 

March  10,  1863, 

Typhoid  -fever, 

Swanzey. 

Healey,  D.  Brainard     . 
Holman,Thos.  Y.^Corpl. 

Hampton,  Va. 
Fitzwilliam    . 

Aug.    28,  3864, 
July     30,  1865, 

Consumption  . 
Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Swanzey. 
Fitzwilliam. 

PRIVATES. 

Lillie,  Levi  N. 

David's  Isl'd.N.Y. 

Sept.   16,1864, 

-           - 

Cypress  Hills,  N.Y., 
No.  1881. 

Mason,  Charles  A. 

Washington,  D.C. 

7,  1863, 

Diphtheria. 

Spaulding,  Dauphin 
Spooner,  Lyman    . 

Washington,  D.C. 
Savannah,  Ga. 

Feb.      7,  1864, 
July      7,  1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 
Remit'nt-fever, 

East  Sullivan. 
Natl.  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1399. 

Stockwell,  George  H.   . 

Troy 

July    20,  1863. 

Thatcher,  Willard  E.    . 

Offutt'sC.R'ds.Md. 

Jan.       3,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Offutt's  Cross  Roads. 

Walton,  Robert     . 

Savannah,  Ga. 

June    24,  1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1397. 

Wilcox,  Henry  E. 

Gilsum  . 

Jan.     24,  1864, 

Consumption  . 

Winchendon,  Mass. 

Total        .        .13 

COMPANY    D. 


Stark  Fellows,  Lieut  .  . 

Ft.    Taylor,    Key 

West,  Fla.  . 

May     23,  1864, 

Congest,  brain, 

yellow-fever, 

Sandown. 

PRIVATES. 

Brocklebank,  Geo.  A. 

Savannah,  Ga. 

May     10,  1865, 

Typhoid-fever. 

Choate,  John 

Savannah,  Ga. 

June    13,1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1401. 

Emery,  Warren  H.      . 

Natchez,  Miss.      . 

July    25,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea. 

Foster,  James  F.  . 

Howard,  George  A.     . 

Hilton  Head,  S.C. 

6,  1865, 

Heart-disease  . 

Hilton  Head,  S.C. 

Janvrin,  William  T.    . 

Savannah,  Ga. 

April  15,  1865, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1403. 

Jones,  Sylvester  . 

Washington,  D.C. 

March  13,  1863, 

Anosarca 

Natl.  Cem.,  Soldiers' 
Home,D.C.,No.l50. 

Mills,  James  F.     . 

Natchez,  Miss. 

June    29,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever. 

Merrill,  Frank  P. 

Winchester,  Va.    . 

Nov.    18,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever. 

Randall,  John  E.  . 

Cincinnati,  O. 

Aug.    31,1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Natl.   Cem.,    Spring 

Total        .        .     11 

Grove,  No.  309. 

414 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IV.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY   E. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Where  Buried. 

SERGEANTS. 

Hiram  J.  Rounds  . 

Annapolis,  Md. 

March  12,  1865, 

Result   of  im 

prisonment  . 

Natl.  Cem.,  Annapo 

lis,  Md.,  No.  504. 

Lewis  P.  Sumners 

Washington,  D.C. 

Aug.     1,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Natl.  Cem.,  Soldiers' 

Home,  Wash.,  D.C. 

Walter  Buck  . 

Baltimore,  Md.      . 

Sept.   13,1864, 

Typhoid-fever. 

CORPORALS. 

Isaac  R.  Smith 

New  Orleans,  La.  . 

Aug.    21,1864, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Bethel,  N.C. 

Leland  B.  Philbrook     . 

Washington,  D.C. 

May     10,  1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Armstrong,  Alpheus    . 

_              _ 

Sept.  22,  1864. 

Brown,  Harvey  R. 
Cushman,  Horace,  2d   . 

Poolesville,  Md.    . 
Savannah,  Ga. 

Feb.     16,  1803, 
June    28,1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Washington,  D.C. 
Beaufort,    S.  C.,   No 

4879. 

Gray,  Joseph  M.  . 

Offutt's  C.R'ds,Md. 

Dec.    25,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Offutt's  Cr.  Rd's,  Md. 

Jarvis,  William     . 

Offutt's  C.Rd's,  Md. 

8,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Offutt's  Cr.  Rd's,  Md. 

Lindsey,  George  H. 
Lunn,  William  M. 

Whitefteld      . 
Washington,  D.C. 

March  25,  1865, 
Nov.      9,  1863, 

Diphtheria. 

Whitetield. 

Massure,  Jonas 

Washington,  D.C. 

Sept.    23,  1863, 

Chr.  diarrhoaa, 

Washington,  D.C. 

Potter,  Daniel 

Baltimore,  Md. 

March  8,1865, 

_           _ 

Stark. 

Purrington,  John  . 

Morgan  zia,  La. 

June    11,1864, 

Heart-disease, 

Monranzia,  La. 

Quints,  George  C. 

Whitefield      . 

March   7,  1865, 

_           _ 

Whfteneld. 

Twitchell,  Claudius  A. 

Offutt's  C.  Rd's,  Md. 

Dec.     18,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Milan. 

Veasie,  Johu 

Washington,  D.C. 

April  20,  1863, 

N.  Cem.,  Soldiers'  H., 

Wash.,  No.  5122. 

Wilder,  Edward  B. 

Offutt's  C.Rd's,  Md. 

Nov.    30,1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Offutt's  Cr.  Rd's,  Md. 

Total        .        .     19 

COMPANY    F. 


CORPORALS. 
George  Norwood  . 

Milton  G.  Frost     . 
Benjamin  Newell,  jun.  . 

Lock  21,  C.  &  O. 
Canal,  Md.  . 
Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Richmond 

Oct.  26,  1862, 
Jan.  18,  1863, 
Oct.  14,  1864, 

Drowned 
Typhoid-fever, 
Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Winchester. 
Milan. 
Richmond. 

MUSICIAN. 
Denzel  T.  Swan    . 

Washington,  D.C. 

Aug.  3,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Winchester. 

PRIVATES. 
Andrews,  Ethan  A. 
Henry,  Herbert  W. 

Lampson,  Bradford  P.  . 
McClenning,  Henry  J.  . 
Thayer,  Henry  F.  . 
Webber,  James  H. 
Total        .        .      10 

Milan      . 
Alexandria,  Va.    . 

Savannah,  Ga. 
Washington,  D.C. 
New  Orleans,  La.  . 
Harper's  F.,  W.Va. 

Dec.  7,  1864, 
Feb.  17,  1864, 

9,  1865, 
Aug.  7,  1863, 
July  10,  1864, 
Feb.  23,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 
Typhoid-fever, 

Ship-fever 
Typhoid-  fever, 
Small-pox 
Measles    . 

Milan. 
Nat.  Cem.,  Arlington, 
Va.,  No.  6739, 
N.Cem.,Beaufort,S.C. 
Chesterfield. 
New  Orleans. 
Harper's  Ferry. 

COMPANY    G. 

SERGEANT. 
Charles  D.  Emery 

Washington,  D.C. 

Nov.  14,1863, 

Diphtheria 

East  Jaffrey. 

CORPORAL. 
John  A.  Woodward 

New-  York  City     . 

Aug.  17,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhrca, 

Surry. 

DEATHS  BY  DISEASE. 
TABLE  IV.  —  COMPANY  G — Continued. 


415 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Where  Buried. 

PRIVATES. 

Evans,  Frank,  jun 
Marvin,  Edwin 
Phillips,  John 
Rand,  Leonard 
Smith,  Charles  M 
Smith,  Henry  A. 
Webber,  Conrad 
Total        .                 9 

Poolesville,  Md. 
Ornnt'sC.R'ds,Md. 
Offutt'sC.  R'ds,Md. 
Camp  Parapet,  La. 
Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Salisbury,  N.C.     . 

March  30,  1863, 
Dec.     15,  1862. 
19,  1862, 
May     28,  1864, 
Jan.     12,  1S63, 
7,  1863, 
Dec.    14,  1864, 

Lung-fever 
Typhoid-fever 
Typhoid-fever 
Heart-disease 
Typhoid-fever 
Typhoid-fever 
Intermit.-fever, 

Keene. 
Dublin. 
Dublin. 
Jaffrey. 
Rindge. 
Rindge. 
Nat.  Cem.,  Salisbury, 
N.C. 

COMPANY    H. 


SERGEANTS. 

Daniel  P.  Kilburn 
Arthur  F.  Goodrich      . 
Solomon  G.  Gale  . 

Webster 
Washington,  D.C. 
Washington,  D.C. 

March  16,  1864, 
Sept.    12,  1863, 
28,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever. 
Typhoid-fever. 
Chr.  diarrhoea 

CORPORAL. 

John  A.  Preston    . 

Washington,  D.C. 

Oct.     16,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhcea. 

PRIVATES. 

Baker,  William  H. 
Barrett,  Joel  . 
Call,  George  . 

Poolesville,  Md.  . 
Poolcsville,  Md.  . 
Washington,  D.C. 

Feb.     28,  1863, 
24,  1863, 
June    11,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever. 
Typhoid-fever. 
Congest,  brain, 

Nat'l  Cem.,  Soldiers' 

Downing,  Daniel  . 

Baltimore,  Md. 

Feb.       6,  1865, 

Chr.  diarrhcea, 

II.,  D.C.,  No.  4773. 
N.  Cem  ,  London  P'k, 

Eaton,  Moses  K.    . 
Edmunds,  Charles  H.  . 
Harrington,  David 
Hobbs,  Fernando  . 

Washington,  D.C. 

At  sea     . 
Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Warren  . 

Sept.    21,1863, 
April     2,  1864, 
Feb.     23,  1863, 
May     17,  1863. 

Diphtheria. 
Small-pox 
Typhoid-fever. 

Md.,  No.  1076. 
At  sea. 

Nichols,  Hiram 
Perry,  Joseph  C.  . 
Roby,  Gardner 
Smith,  Laroy 

Washington,  D.C. 
Montgomery,  Md.  . 
Oifutt'sC.R'ds.Md. 
Washington,  D.C. 

Jan.       9,  1864, 
Nov.      3,  1862, 
Dec.    19,  1862, 
Aug.    17,1864, 

Pneumonia 
Typhoid-fever, 
Typhoid-fever. 
Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Chichester. 
Nat.  Cem.,  Arlington, 

Straw,  Edgar  H.    . 
Whitefield,  George 
Total        .        .     18 

Washington,  D.C. 
Sandy  Hook,  Md.  . 

Oct.     20,  1863, 
Feb.     15,  1864, 

Diphtheria. 
Hemorrhage. 

Va.,  No.  7427. 

COMPANY    I. 


Nath.  L.  Chandler,  Capt. 
D.  J.  Pillsbury,  2d  Lt.  . 

Bradford 
Washington,  D.C. 

Sept.    11,1864, 
Aug.    11,1863, 

Diphtheria 
Typhoid-fever, 

Newbury. 
East  Grantham. 

SERGEANT. 

William  W.  Page 

Newport 

Dec.     22,  1864, 

Chr.  diarrhea, 

North  Newport. 

PRIVATES. 

Benway,  Reuben  T. 
Brown,  Charles     . 
Burr,  Versal  E.     . 

Washington,  D.C. 
Tenallytown,  Md.  . 
Hampton,  Va. 

Nov.    12,  1863, 
Aug.    11,  1864, 
25,  1864, 

Diphtheria 
Typhoid-fever, 
Diarrhcea 

Cornish  Flat. 
Tenallytown,  Md. 
Nat'l  Cem.,  Hampton, 

Choate,  Thomas    . 
Clough,  Francis  S. 
Crowell,  Jonathan 
Currier,  Henry  H. 

Bradford 
Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Baltimore,  Md. 
New  Orleans,  La.  . 

1,  1865, 
March  21,  1863, 
Sept.      8,  1864, 
Dec.     22,  1864, 

Diarrhoea 
Typhoid-fever, 
Diarrhoea 
Diarrhoea 

Va.,  No.  2256. 
Bradford. 
East  Grantham. 
North  Newport. 
Nat.  Cem.,  Chalmette, 

Dow,  Newell  T.    • 
Edminster,  Thomas  B. 
Hoyt,  Christopher 
Leavitt,  Charles  H. 

Seabrook 
Springfield,  Mass.  . 
Bradford 
At  sea. 

March  18,  1864, 
Oct.     28,  1864, 
Dec.     27,  1864, 
July    11,  1864, 

Diphtheria 
Diarrhoea 
Diarrhoea 
Malaria-fever  . 

La.,  No.  6039. 
Seabrook. 
South  Cornish. 
Bradford. 
At  sea. 

416 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
TABLE  IV.  —  COMPANY  I  —  Concluded. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Where  Buried. 

PRIVATES. 

Lewis,  William  S. 

Washington,  D.C. 

Jan.     21,  1864, 

Pneumonia 

Claremont. 

Mahier,  Peter 

Chichester      . 

March  30,  1865, 

Diarrhoea 

Chichester. 

Marshall,  Eugene  O. 
Miller,  Wareham  M. 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Washington,  D.C. 

Jan.     21,  1863, 
Aug.    23,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever 
Typhoid-fever 

Bradford. 
Plainfield  Plains. 

Peck,  Philander  H. 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 

Feb.     18,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever 

Newport. 

Powers,  Elias  F.   . 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 

17,  1863, 

Typhoid-fever 

Croydon. 

Banborn.  William  H. 

Washington,  D.C. 

3,  1864, 

Lung-fever 

Seabrook. 

Stone,  Hiram 

Washington,  D.C. 

Oct.        6,  1864, 

Diarrhoea 

Cornish  Flat. 

Watson,  William  H.  H 

Carrollton,  La. 

May     31,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever 

Nat.  Gem.,  Chalmette, 

La.,  No.  1,237. 

Wilson,  Otto 

Fort.  Monroe,  Va. 

Aug.    18,  1864, 

Malaria-fever  . 

Nat'l  Cem.,  Hampton, 

Total        .        .      24 

Va.,  No.  706. 

COMPANY    K. 


Jason  D.  Snell,  1st  Lt.  . 

Carrollton,  La. 

April  26,  1864, 

Consumption  . 

North  Pembroke. 

CORPORALS. 

Thomas  H.  Fife     . 

Offutt'sCr.R'ds.Md. 

Dec.     25,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

North  Sandwich. 

George  M.  Glidden 

Pembroke 

Oct.     18,  1864, 

Infl.  of  bowels, 

Pembroke. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Thomas  S. 

Moultonboro' 

Oct.     23,  1862, 

Typhoid-  fever, 

Moultonboro'. 

Bryant,  Silas  J.     . 

Washington,  D.C. 

Sept.    15,1863, 

Fever 

N.C.,  Soldiers'  Home, 

Washington,   D.C., 

No.  5386. 

Blake,  Henry  F.    . 

Pembroke 

March  9,1864, 

Lung-fever 

North  Pembroke. 

Drew,  Simon 

Washington,  D.C. 

Oct.       2.  1863, 

Diarrhoea 

Pembroke. 

Eaton,  HiulF. 

Savannah,  Ga. 

June     7,  1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Beaufort,  S.C.,No. 
1400. 

Haergett,  Lorenzo  D.     . 

Offutt'sCr.R'ds.Md. 

Nov.    29,  1862, 

Typhoid-fever, 

North  Pembroke. 

Huntress,  Joseph  L.     . 

St'r  "  Continental," 

July    19,  1864, 

Infl.  of  bowels, 

Fortress  Monroe,  Va. 

Prescott,  John  M. 

Offutt'sCr.R'ds.Md. 

Nov.    28,  1862, 

Fever 

Offutt's  Cr.  R'ds,  Md. 

Quimby,  George  D. 
Sawtelle,  Benjamin  F.  . 

Offutt'sCr.R'ds.Md. 
Carrollton,  La. 

Dec.     14,  1862, 
May     14,  1864, 

Typhoid-fever, 
Infl.  of  bowels, 

Sandwich. 
Sandwich. 

Sinclair,  William  H.  H. 

Savannah,  Ga. 

30,  1865, 

Epilepsy  . 

Nat'l  Cem.,  Beaufort, 

S.C.,  No.  1405. 

Smith,  Moses  L.    . 

Offutt'sCr.R'ds.Md. 

Dec.      8,  1862, 

Fever 

Sandwich  Centre. 

Tanner,  Edward  E. 
-Wallace,  James  M. 

Poolesville,  Md.     . 
Sandwich 

March  19,  1863, 
Sept.   25,1863, 

Typhoid-fever, 
Diarrhoea 

Sandwich. 
Sandwich. 

Total        .        .      17 

KILLED  IN  BATTLE. 


417 


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419 


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WOUNDED  IN  BATTLE. 


421 


TABLE     VI. 

WOUNDED. 
COMPANY    A. 


NAME. 

Action. 

Date. 

Nature  of  Wound. 

James  B.  Mason,  1st  Lt. 

Petersb'gMine, 

July    30,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right-arm  near  shoulder;  am 

Russell  F.  Smith,  2d  Lt. 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

putated. 
Gunshot  in  foot,  shell-wound  in  side. 

SERGEANTS. 

Fred'k  L.  Thomas,  1st  . 
Holland  Wheeler   . 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
19,  1864, 

Slight. 
Shell  wound  in  side. 

CORPORALS 

Tyler  E.  Greenwood     . 
Luke  Knowlton,  jun.     . 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek 

Sept.    19,1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  both  thighs,  flesh. 
Gunshot  in  arm,  flesh. 

George  W.  Lewis  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  hand. 

PRIVATES. 

Daggett,  Albert  M. 
Goodnow,  Edwin  J. 
Greeley,  James  K. 

Cedar  Creek 
Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 
Sept.    19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

In  shoulder,  slight. 
Gunshot  in  left  arm;  amputated. 
Gunshot  in  foot. 

Hanrahan,  Martin  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Contusion,  shell,  slight. 

Liscom,  Samuel  E. 
MoCollester,  Sumner  L. 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  forehead;  shell-  w'nd  in  thigh. 
Gunshot  in  left-arm. 

Pierce,  William  H. 
Rawson,  Isaac  W.  . 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek 

19,  1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  shoulder. 
Gunshot  in  left  shoulder. 

Tapper,  Alonzo  W. 

Cedar  Creek 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  fore-arm,  flesh. 

Wheeler,  Lyman  K. 
Whitcomb,  Franklin  C. 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek 

Sept.    19,  1864, 
Oct.     19,  1864, 

Shell  wound  in  thigh. 
Gunshot  in  left  shoulder. 

Total         .        .      18 

COMPANY    B. 


SERGEANTS. 

Frank  O.  Pierce 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  wound,  both  ankles;  right  leg 

amputated. 

Albert  H.  Tyrell    . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Shell  wound,  face,  right  leg,  slight. 

PRIVATES. 

Cornwell,  Richard  B. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.   19,1864, 

Gunshot  wound,  knee. 

Gates,  Henry  H.     . 
Kenyon,  David  Y. 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound,  right  arm,  left  leg. 
Shell  wound,  contusion,  shoulder. 

Keyes,  George  Alfred 
Smith,  Erastus 
Wright,  Charles  H. 
Total        .        .       8 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Shell  wound,  right  hand. 
Shell  wound,  left  knee. 
Gunshot  wound,  left  leg,  severe. 

COMPANY    C. 


Ira  Berry,  iun.,  Capt.    . 
Darnel  K.  Healey,  1st  Lt. 

Opequan  . 
Ft.  Fisher,  N.C. 

Sept. 
Feb. 

19,  1864, 
11,  1865, 

Gunshot  in  body  and  right  arm. 
Compound  fracture  left  femur. 

CORPORAL. 

Wright  Whitcomb 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct. 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  hand. 

422 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 
TABLE  VI.  —  COMPANY  C  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Action. 

Date. 

Nature  of  Wound. 

PRIVATES. 

Combs,  Carroll  L.  . 
Cu  mm  ings,  Joseph  W. 
Dyer,  Peter     . 
Gallagher,  Frank   . 
Harris,  Daniel 

Cedar  Creek 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek 

Oct.      19,  1864, 
Sept.    19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  foot  and  right  hand. 
In  right  lung. 
Gunshot,  right  thigh,  flesh. 
Gunshot  under  right  ear. 
Gunshot  in  thigh. 

Richardson,  Delavan  C 
Stone,  Stillman  S.  . 
Whitcomb,  Darius  H.    • 
Total         .        .      11 

Cedar  Creek 
Cedar  Creek 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 
Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  side. 
Gunshot  in  right  side  and  right  fore-arm. 
Gunshot,  left  thigh,  flesh. 

COMPANY    D. 


Elbridge  D.  Hadley,  Lt. 
John  N.  Bruce,  Lt. 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot,  lower  jaw  fracture. 
Gunshot,  neck,  flesh. 

SERGEANT. 

Joseph  V.  Bowie   . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Shell,  chest,  contusion. 

CORPORAL. 

Stephen  M.  Wilson 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Hand. 

PRIVATES. 

Breed,  Enoch  W.  . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  hand. 

Brown,  Ira  E. 
Gillespie,  James  A. 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  thigh,  flesh. 
Left  leg,  flesh. 

Hamilton,  William  L. 
Janvrin,  John  S.     . 
Mayo,  Joseph 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  head  and  thigh. 
Gunshot  in  neck,  flesh. 
Gunshot  in  right  elbow,  fracture;  ampu 

tation. 

Morrill,  James 
Muzzey,  Warren  H. 

Opequan  . 
Cedur  Creek    . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  leg,  flesh. 
Thigh. 

Osborn,  Jesse  B.    . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  arm. 

Swett,  George  W.  . 
White,  Philander  C. 
Total         .        .     16 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  both  legs. 
Gunshot  in  right  leg,  flesh. 

COMPANY    E. 


CORPORALS. 

Thomas  J.  Lary     . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Left  leg. 

William  A.  Willis  . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  shoulder. 

PRIVATES. 

Bean,  Caleb  F. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  arm,  flesh. 

Colby,  Moses  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Shell,  left  leg. 

Curtis,  Moses  S.     . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Shell,  chest,  flesh. 

Elliott,  Benjamin  F. 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Shell,  contusion  in  side. 

Holbrook,  Koswell 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  head,  slight. 

Lary,  Andrew  J.    . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  18'»4, 

Gunshot  in  left  leg. 

McFarland,  Loring 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  great  toe. 

Orcutt,  John  D.      . 
Whipp,  Charles  A. 
Total         .        .      11 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  leg,  right  breast,  shell. 
Gunshot  in  right  arm. 

COMPANY    F. 


SERGEANT. 
George  G.  Martin  . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  1864, 

Guushot  in  ankle,  slight. 

CORPORALS. 
Francis  H.  Butfum 

Verwill  Q.  D.  Murdock, 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  1864, 
Oct.  19,  1864, 
Sept.  19,1864, 

Shell  wound  upon  the  hip,  slight. 
Gunshot  in  shoulder,  severe. 
Concussion  of  shell  in  breast,  slight. 

WOUNDED  IN  BATTLE. 
TABLE  VI.  —  COMPANY  F  —  Continued. 


423 


NAME. 

Action. 

Date. 

Nature  of  Wound. 

PRIVATES. 

Bolton,  James  I£.   . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  shoulder. 

Britton,  Frederick  F.     . 

Opequan  . 

19,  18C4, 

Gunshot  in  breast  and  hand. 

Cummings,  William  J.  . 
Davis,  Murray 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  elbow  ;  amputated. 
Grape-shot  in  left  leg  below  the  knee; 

amputated. 

Hill,  Taylor  E. 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Concussion  of  shell  in  shoulder. 

Lambert,  Perrin     . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  shoulder  and  lung. 

Merrifield.  Frank  B.      . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  riaht  shoulder. 

Morey,  William  A. 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  through  left  breast. 

Morse,  James  W.  . 
Perry,  George  F.    . 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864. 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  thigh;  amputated. 
Gunshot  in  left  hip  and  back. 

Thayer,  Edward  F. 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Slight. 

Tuttle,  John  B. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  foot  and  left  hand. 

Ward,  George  P.   . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot,  right  thigh,  slight. 

Total         .        .     16 

COMPANY    G. 


J.  W.  Sturtevant,  1st  Lt. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Shell  wound  in  right  fore-arm;  gunshot 

wound  in  left  thigh. 

PRIVATES 

Craig,  Allen  A. 

Opequan. 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  w'nd  in  little  ringer;  amputation. 

Doolittle,  Joseph  S. 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  w'nd  destroying  thumb  rt.  hand. 

Green,  James 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound  in  foot. 

Hardy,  Sanford  S.  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound,  entering  right  eye. 

Hatch,  Herbert  C.  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound  in  hip. 

Jerry,  Amiell 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound  in  right  arm. 

Kelleher,  Timothy 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Right  hip. 

Morey,  Albert  L.   . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Shell  wound  in  left  knee. 

Pierce,  Albert  S.    . 

Fisher  Eli  11      . 

Sept.    22,  1864, 

Severe  contusion  in  head  by  Minie-ball. 

Pollard,  Ivers  E.    . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound  in  lower  jaw. 

Riley,  Michael 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound   in   left  shoulder;   shell 

wound  in  left  hand. 

Smith,  Royal  W.   . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Shell  wound  in  left  ankle. 

Spaulding,  Austin  A.     . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  w'nd  in  right  thigh,  lower  third. 

Total         .        .      14 

COMPANY    H. 


W.  H.  Sargent,  1st  Lt.   . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.   19,1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  arm  near  elbow. 

D.  A.  Macurdy,  1st  Lt.  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  foot. 

M.  M.  Holmes,  Id  Lt.    . 

Cedar  Creek   . 

19,  1864, 

Slight,  in  head. 

CORPORALS. 

Amos  C.  Bailey 

Cedar  Creek   . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  shoulder. 

George  M.  Barnard 
Alonzo  P.  Chamberlain, 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.   19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  back,  flesh. 
Gunshot  wound  in  left  leg. 

Corser  P.  Hamilton 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  leg. 

PRIVATES. 

Clement,  Charles  H. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Concussion  of  shell  in  back. 

Dolloff,  Levi   . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  leg  above  knee. 

Hastings,  Lyman  B. 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864. 

Keegan,  John 
Libby,  George  A.  . 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864. 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  hip,  slight. 

Mangan,  Dennis     . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Sabre  wound. 

Merrill,  Artemas  W.      . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Finger  of  left  hand. 

Morse,  John  D. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.   19,  1864, 

Shell  wound  in  side;  gunshot  in  leg. 

Moulton,  Freeman 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  foot. 

Norwood,  John  E. 
Pierce,  Edward  E. 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  arm. 
Lost  little  finger  of  left  hand. 

Varney,  John  S.     . 
Ward,  James  O.     . 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864. 

Slightly. 
Gunshot  in  right  thigh. 

Williams,  Simeon  . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864. 

Total         .        .     21 

424 


FOURTEENTH   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE   VI.  —  Concluded. 
COMPANY    I. 


NAME. 

Action. 

Date. 

Nature  of  Wound. 

SERGEANT. 

Benjamin  F.  Fierce 

Cedar  Creek   . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  ankle,  fracture. 

CORPORAL. 

Marcus  M.  Lane     . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  hand  and  right  hip. 

PRIVATES. 

Barker,  Frederick  L. 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Right  thigh,  severe. 

Belanger,  Alphonzo 
Barton,  Ziba  C. 

Cedar  Creek 
Cedar  Creek 

Oct.      19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  thigh. 
Gunshot  in  chest. 

Howard,  Wilbur  F. 
Huntoon,  Ransom  . 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  leg,  amputated. 
Gunshot  in  right  thigh  and  left  heel. 

Mitchell,  Oliver      . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  legs,  flesh. 

Murphy,  John 
Shellan,  Maurice    . 

Cedar  Creek 
Cedar  Creek 

Oct.     19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Arm. 

Side. 

{Stanley,  Clarence  . 
Whittaker,  Benjamin 

Cedar  Creek 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  leg. 
Left  thigh. 

Welch,  William     . 

Cedar  Creek 

Oct.      19,  1864  , 

Gunshot  in  left  arm. 

Total         .        .      13 

COMPANY    K. 


Oliver  H.  Marston,  Capt. 

Cedar  Creek   . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  arm,  flesh. 

SERGEANTS. 

James  II.  Gilman,  1st    . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Slight. 

Octavius  C.  Mason 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  wound  in  arm,  slight. 

CORPORALS. 

Jeremiah  S.  Smith 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,1864, 

Left  shoulder  fracture. 

Samuel  F.  Beede    . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  1864, 

Gunshot,  left  rib  fracture. 

PRIVATES. 

Buzzell,  Ebenezer  M.    . 
Buzzell,  Ransom  D. 

Opequan  . 
Fisher's  Hill   . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
22,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  head,  slight. 
Gunshot  wound  in  scalp. 

Emerson,  James 
Fowler,  Trueworthy     . 

Opequan  . 
Opequan  . 

19,  1864, 
19,  1864, 

Shell,  left  leg,  gunshot  in  thigh,  flesh. 
Shell  in  back. 

Glogget,  Enos 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  thumb. 

Haggett,  Benjamin  B.    . 
Henry,  Lewis 

Opequan  . 
Cedar  Creek    . 

Sept.    19,1864, 
Oct.      19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  right  thigh,  left  leg,  flesh. 
Shoulder. 

Kent,  John 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot,  slight  wound  in  neck. 

Magoon,  Asa  . 

Cedar  Creek    . 

19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  elbow. 

Nelson,  John  W.    . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  foot. 

Quimby,  William  F. 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.      19,  1864, 

Shell  in  left  hip. 

liobinson,  Samuel  D.     . 

Opequan  . 

Sept.    19,  1864, 

Gunshot  in  left  wrist. 

Smith,  Samuel  S.   . 

Opequan  . 

19,  1864. 

Total         .        .      18 

CAPTURED. 


425 


TABLE    VII. 

CAPTURED. 


NAME. 

Co. 

Where 
Captured. 

When. 

Where  Confined. 

Paroled  or  Exchanged. 

R.  F.  Smith,  2d  Lt. 

A, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Danville,  N.C. 

Feb.  22,  1865. 

Crowninshield,  D.  . 

A, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Salisbury,  N.C. 

Died  at  Salisbury  Nov. 
28,  1864. 

Evans,  Stephen  W. 

A, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Richmond,  Va.  . 

Died  at  Richmond,  Nov. 

28,  1864. 

Adams,  Lewis 

B, 

Newm'ket,  Va. 

Sept.  26,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Nov.  1,  1864. 

Shepard,  H.  E. 

B, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison      . 

Died  in  prison. 

Stone,  Seamon  A.  . 

0, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Oct.  8,  1864. 

Beckman,  Francis  . 

D, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Oct.  7,  1864. 

Thurston,  Peleg  B. 

I>, 

Opequan  . 

19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Oct.  7,  1864. 

H.  J.  Rounds,  Sergt. 

E, 

Near  Winches 
ter,  Va. 

Aug.  15,  '64, 

Libby  Prison      . 

Exch.     Died  at  Annapo 
lis,  Md.,  March  12,  '65. 

Elliot,  Benj.  F. 

E, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.     19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison 

Exchanged  Feb.  15,  1865. 

T.  A.  Ripley,  Capt. 

F, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Danville,  N.C. 

March,  1865. 

Farr,  Chauncey  S.  . 

F, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Salisbury,  N.C. 

Feb.  27,  1865. 

Snell,  David    . 

F, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Never  heard  from. 

Kelleher,  Timothy, 

G, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Oct.  2,  1864. 

Sullivan,  Kerry  J.  . 

G, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Danville,  N.C. 

March,  1865. 

Webber,  Conrad     . 

G, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Salisbury,  N.C.  . 

Died  in  prison. 

Mitchell,  Lewis       . 

H, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

_ 

Supposed  to  have  died  in 

Ward,  James  O.     . 

H, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Woodstock,  Va. 

prison. 
Recaptured  Oct.  19,  1864. 

Knights,  Alonzo     . 

I, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Oct.  2,  '64.    Ex 

changed  Nov.  15,  1864. 

Mehier,  Peter  . 

I, 

Opequan  . 

19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Osgood,  Wm.  T.     . 

I. 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64, 

Salisbury,  N.C. 

Paroled  Oct.  8,  1864. 
Paroled  Nov.  25,  1864. 

Page,  John  M. 

I, 

Opequan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Belle  Isle,  Va. 

Paroled  Oct.  2,  '64.     Ex- 

changed  Nov.  15,  1864. 

Tasker,  George 

I, 

Opequan  . 

19,  '64, 

Libby  Prison  and 

Salisbury,  N.C. 

Paroled  Oct.  8,  1864. 

Lee,  William  . 

K, 

Opeqnan  . 

Sept.  19,  '64. 

Taylor,  Peter  . 

K, 

Cedar  Creek    . 

Oct.    19,  '64. 

Total         .     25 

426 


FO  UR  TEE  NTH  NE  W  HA  MP  SHI  RE. 


TABLE    VIII. 

DEATHS    SINCE   DISCHARGE. 

FIELD,    STAFF,    AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Place  of  Burial. 

Robert  Wilson 

Keene  . 

April     8,  1870, 

Fatty  degenera 

tion  of  liver  . 

Keene. 

Tileston  A.  Barker 

Keene. 

Dec.       7,  1879, 

Cancer     . 

Westmoreland. 

Elihu  Thayer  Rowe 
George  D.  Richardson, 

Auburnd'le.Mass. 
llilo,  Sandwich  I. 

March  21,  1867, 
June     1,  1869, 

Consumption  . 
Consumption  . 

Kingston. 
llilo,  Sandwich  Isl'ds. 

Total        .        .       4 

COMPANY    A. 


Henry  M.  Staples  . 

Keene  . 

Oct.     21,  1876, 

Killed  on  loco., 

Woodland  Ce.,  Keene. 

PRIVATES. 

Arnsden,  John 

Ashfield,  Mass.  . 

Consumption 

Ashfield,  Mass. 

Benton,  Frank  G.  . 

Keene  . 

June    23,  1881, 

Brain   disease 

(sunstroke) 

Surry. 

Bishop,  William    . 

New-York  City, 

March  23,  1878, 

Diptheria 

Hinsdale. 

Burgess,  Charles  II. 

Brookline    . 

Jan.     31,  1881, 

Kit.  in  sawmill, 

Brookline. 

French,  Preston  L. 

Boston,  Mass.     . 

Aug.    23,  1879, 

East  Jaffrey. 

Greenwood,  E.  Tyler   . 

Akron,  O.  . 

Nov.    19,  1876, 

Consumption 

Leominster,  Mass. 

Prait,  William  L.  . 

Westmoreland    . 

25,  1867, 

Kil.  by  thresh 

ing-machine 

Westmoreland. 

Richardson,  MiloJ. 

St.  Albans,  Vt.  . 

Oct.     31,  1871, 

Consumption 

Chesterfield  Factory. 

Tuppcr,  Alonzo  W. 

Millers  F'ls,Mass. 

June     2,  1874, 

Consumption 

Millers  Falls. 

Whittemore,  Curtis  A. 
Winchester,  Sidney  1'. 
Total        .        .      12 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 
Walpole      . 

Sept.    11,1867, 
Oct.     22,  1865, 

Typhoid  fever 
Epilepsy  . 

Troy. 
East  Westmoreland. 

C( 

3MPANY   B 

. 

SERGEANT. 

Albert  11.  Tyrell  . 

Springfield,  Vt.  . 

April  29,  1866, 

Consumption  . 

Springfield,  Vt. 

CORPORAL. 

George  R.  Knapp 

Savannah,  Ga.    . 

July    23,  1867, 

Congest,  chills, 

Savannah,  Ga. 

PRIVATES. 

Blake,  Ira  E. 

Surry  . 

Sept.    27,  1877, 

Consumption  . 

Surry. 

Corbin,  Charles  N. 

Concord 

July     29,  1865, 

Typhoid  fever, 

Charlestown. 

Emerson,  Bellows 

Leominst'r,  Mass. 

Farnsworth,  John  S.    . 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

March  28,  1880, 

Inflam.  bowels, 

Walpole. 

Gassett,  Daniel 

Acworth 

Sept.    30,  1873, 

Consumption  . 

Acworth. 

Kreatzer,  John  F. 

Walpole      . 

Feb.      9,  1882, 

Heart  disease  . 

Walpole. 

Marshall,  Harlan  P. 

__           _ 

Parks,  Fred  S. 

Charlestown 

June     9,  1872, 

Consumption  . 

Charlestown. 

Powers,  James  F. 

Marlow 

July      2,  1866, 

Consumption  . 

Marlow. 

Total        .        .      11 

DEATHS  SINCE  DISCHARGE. 


427 


TABLE  VIII.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    C. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Place  of  Burial. 

Charles  H.  Barrett 

Stoddard     . 

Killed. 

PRIVATES. 

Balch,  Perley  E.  . 

Keene  . 

Aug.    16,  1866, 

Fell  from  load 

of  hay    . 

Keene. 

Barden,  Hiram 

Keene  . 

June    15,1879, 

Rheumatism  of 

heart 

Old  Cemetery,  Keene. 

Blodgett,  Edmund 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Bolio,  Theodore    . 

Burlington,  Vt.  . 

May     30,  1869, 

Burlington. 

Capron,  George  I. 

Harris,  Daniel 

Fitzwilliam 

June     6,  1872, 

Poisoning 

Fitzwilliam. 

Hastings,  Emery  . 
Osborn,  Daniel  P. 

Keene. 
Fitzwilliam 

Feb.     11,  1873, 
Nov.    27,  1871, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Keene. 
Fitzwilliam. 

Slyfield,  Daniel     . 

Keene  . 

1866, 

Lung-fever 

Keene. 

Thayer,  John  S.    . 
Thomas,  Dexter  H. 

West  Swanzey  . 
Swanzey     . 

Chr.  diarrhoea. 
Consumption  . 

Swanzey. 

Thompson,  Cyrus  H. 

Keene  . 

Jan.     27,  1867, 

Scia.  rheumat. 

Troy. 

Wheelock,  Lincoln 

Swanzey     . 

Typhoid-fever. 

Total        .        .      14 

COMPANY    D. 


John  N.  Brown,  2d  Li. 

Seabrook    . 

Oct.     17,  1881, 

Bright's  dis.    . 

Hampton. 

SERGEANT. 

John  C.  Perkins    . 

Hampton    . 

Feb.      5,  1875, 

Consumption  . 

Hampton. 

CORPORAL. 

Samuel  S.  Page      . 

Hampton    . 

Nov.    15,1866, 

Consumption  . 

Hampton. 

PRIVATES. 

Clark,  Frank  J.      . 

Bradford     . 

_ 

Consumption  . 

Clough,  Oliver  G-.  . 
Crane,  Simon  J.     . 

Deering 
Concord 

July    21,  1877, 
Nov.    23,  1880, 

Lockjaw  . 
Consumption 

East  Deering. 
West  Concord. 

Day,  James  G. 

East  Weare 

Dec.       6,  1865, 

Consumption 

Dow,  Alfred  B.      . 

Amesbury,  Mass. 

1875, 

Consumption 

Seabrook. 

Hamilton,  William  L.  . 

East  Weare 

Chr.  diarrhoea 

East  Weare. 

Hodgdon,  George  W.   . 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Jan.     17,  1877, 

Bright's  dis. 

Newton. 

McCormick,  Bernard    . 

Rowell,  Amos 

Kensington 

Aug.      9,  1865, 

Lung-fever 

Kensington. 

Schofield,  James    . 

Soldiers'   Home, 

Togus,  Me. 

1876, 

Selley,  Robert  M.  W.   . 

Deering 

April  22,  1867, 

Typhoid-fever, 

East  Deering. 

Titcomb,  Henry  H. 
Willard,  George  S. 

Ins.  Asy.  Conc'd, 
Monson,  Mass.   . 

_           _ 

Killed  on  ele 

Total        .        .      16 

vator. 

COMPANY    E. 


Freed.  M.Rhodes,  Capt. 
John  E.  Willis,  '2d  Lt.  . 

Bridgewater,  Vt. 
Gorharn 

Jan. 

8,  1881, 

Hemorrhage. 
R.R.  accident  . 

Gorham. 

PRIVATES. 

Day,  John  G.         . 

Gorham 

May 

19,  1881. 

Ford,  George  W.  . 

Jordan,  Thomas  J. 

Berlin  . 

_ 

_ 

Knight,  Calvin  J.  . 
Lane,  Henry  A.     . 

Stark  . 
Beaufort,  S  C.     . 

_ 

1881, 

Falling  of  tree. 

Nat.  Cem.  Beaufort,  S.C. 

McFarland,  Loring 
Sherwood,  William 

Stark   . 
Littleton 

Aug., 
Oct. 

1866, 
14,  1877, 

Fever 
Heart-disease  . 

Stark. 

Underwood,  Jesse 

Dalton 

1873. 

Webb,  George  F.  . 

Gorham 

Feb. 

24,  1879, 

Heart-disease  . 

Total        .        .      11 

428 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  VIII.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    F. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Place  of  Burial. 

Theod.  A.  Ripley,  Capt. 

EmanuelCo.,  Ga. 

July    23,  1866, 

Killed  by  "  Ku- 
Klux". 

Winchester. 

John  H.  Goodwin,  Lt.  . 

Newark,  N.J.     . 

June    27,1881, 

Chr.  diarrhrea, 

Soldiers'  Cem.,Newark. 

SERGEANT. 

James  S.  iStoddard 

Millbury,  Mass.  . 

March  30,  1872, 

Consumption  . 

Millbury,  Mass. 

CORPORALS. 

Henry  F.  Pratt 
Florus  H.  Wood    . 

Winchester 
Winchester 

Oct.       1,  1866, 
Aug.    26,  1871, 

Consumption  . 
Consumption  . 

Winchester. 
Winchester. 

Henry  A.  Wood    . 

Keene.        . 

15,  1872, 

Consumption  . 

Winchester. 

PRIVATES. 

Brown,  Boardvvin 

Keene  . 

July    20,  1867, 

Chr.  gastritis  . 

Keene. 

Buft'um,  Jedediah,  jun. 

Brattleboro',  Vt. 

May     12,  1877, 

Brain  disease  . 

Winchester. 

Cummings,  William  J.  . 

Stark  . 

21,  1881, 

Killed  on  R.R. 

Northumberland. 

Hayes,  Patrick 

Ashuelot     .        , 

21,  1876, 

Consumption  . 

Keene. 

Howard,  Luther  E. 
Letcher,  Edward  . 

Springfield,  Mass. 
Worcester,  Mass. 

Dec.    20,  1874, 
1870, 

Consumption  . 
Killed  in  riot. 

Springfield,  Mass. 

Lucas,  Wesley  J.  . 

Milan  . 

Pratt,  Charles 

Gill,  Mass.  . 

_ 

_           _ 

Gill,  Mass. 

Wilson,  Jesse 

Peterborough     . 

1867, 

Suicide     . 

Hancock. 

Total        .        .      15 

COMPANY    G. 


Cragin,  Chas.  O.,IstLt. 

Emporia,  Kan.  . 

Dec/  15,  1877, 

Consumption  . 

Emporia,  Kan. 

SERGEANTS. 

Leathers,  John  S.,  Maj. 

Jaffrey 

March  29,  1870, 

Consumption  . 

Jaffrey. 

Lowe,  George  F.  . 

Quincy,  Fla. 

June    18,  1882, 

Bilious-fever   . 

Quincy,  Fla. 

PRIVATES. 

Bartenback,  Christop'r, 
Casey,  John   . 

Jaffrey 
Keene. 

Oct.       5,  1876, 
May     10,  1877, 

Diabetes  . 
Dis.  of  spine   . 

Jaffrey. 
Keene. 

Craig,  Allen  A. 

Keene  . 

Aug.    15,  1874, 

Murdered 

Keene. 

Curtin,  David 

Westmoreland  . 

June      6,  1877, 

Congest,  brain, 

Keene. 

Doolittle,  William  A.   . 

Winchester 

Aug.    24,  1882, 

Chr.  diarrhoea, 

Winchester. 

Hazen,  Edson  S.    . 

Dublin 

Oct.       5,  1865, 

Consumption  . 

Dublin. 

Hurd,  Cyrus  . 

Camago,  111. 

June     6,  1879, 

Lung-fever 

Camago,  111. 

Lewis,  William  H. 

Winchester 

May       5,  1881, 

Pneumonia 

Winchester. 

Pettes,  James  E.    . 

Winchendon 

Sept.     5,  1871, 

Consumption  . 

Winchendon,  Mass. 

Prescott,  Oren  D.  . 

Jaffrey 

Dec.     30,  1875, 

Scarlet-fever    . 

Jaffrey. 

Richardson,  George  W. 

Passc-dena,  Cal.  . 

March  17,  1881, 

Chr.  diarrhoaa, 

Passedena,  Cal. 

Robbins,  Alfred  J. 

Jaffrey 

June    25,  1866, 

Consumption  . 

Jaffrey. 

Ryan,  John    . 

Keene  . 

Aug.      1,  1881, 

Kil.  by  cir.  saw, 

Keene. 

Sumner,  David 

Manchester 

Sept.     9,  1971, 

Chr.  rheumat. 

Keene. 

Total        .        .     16 

COMPANY    H. 

Hamilton  P.  Corser 

Webster      . 

Oct        8,  1881, 

Consumption  . 

Webster. 

Cyrus  Sanborn 

Chichester  . 

May     14,  1874, 

Diabetes  . 

Chichester. 

Barnes,  Edward  W.     . 

_              _ 

_           _ 

_           _ 

Hopkinton. 

Bunten,  George  H. 

Bow    . 

-           - 

Consumption. 

Ladd,  George  W. 

_              _ 

_           _ 

__           _ 

Salisbury. 

Paro,  Peter    . 

Canterbury 

_           _ 

_ 

Canterbury. 

Saltmarsh,  Alonzo  P.  . 

Bow     . 

_           _ 

Consumption. 

Thompson,  Hiram 

Webster.     . 

- 

- 

Webster. 

Total        .        .        8 

DEATHS  SINCE  DISCHARGE. 


429 


TABLE  VIII.  —  Concluded. 
COMPANY  I. 


NAME. 

Where  Died. 

When. 

Cause. 

Place  of  Burial. 

A.  W.  Richardson,  Lt. 

Lebanon 

May       4,  1874, 

Bright'sdis.    . 

Lebanon. 

PRIVATES. 

Bowker,  Charles  S. 

Wilmington,  Vt 

Dec.     27,  1879, 

Diabetes  . 

Wilmington,  Vt. 

Borden,  Edgar 
Collins,  Edward  W. 

Newport 
Cornish  Flat 

July     15,  1880, 
Oct.        7,  1869, 

Ulcers 
Pneumonia 

North  Newport. 
Cornish  Flat. 

Dickey,  Joseph  A. 
GilHngham,  Oliver  P. 

Acworth 
Claremont  . 

Dec.     22,  1868, 
April  22,  1863, 

Dropsy    . 
Consumption  . 

Acworth. 
Claremont. 

Hardy,  William    . 

Nashua 

Nov.    28,  1870, 

Neur.  of  heart, 

Nashua. 

Leet,  Levi       . 

Claremont  . 

July     17,  1863, 

Diarrhoea 

West  Claremont. 

Osgood,  William  T. 

Seabrook     . 

June      5,  1867, 

Consumption  . 

Seabrook. 

Total        .        .       9 

COMPANY"   K. 


SERGEANT. 

Benjamin  C.  Skinner    . 

Baraboo,  Wis.  . 

Sept.     8,  1876, 

Consumption  . 

Baraboo,  Wis. 

CORPORAL. 

Jeremiah  S.  Smith 

Sandwich,    . 

Jan.     11,  1880, 

Wounds  rec'd, 

Sandwich. 

PRIVATES. 

Bennett,  John  P.  . 
Cofran,  Charles  H. 

Sandwich    . 
No.  Pembroke    . 

July       6,  1868, 

Consumption. 
Chr.  diarrhoea, 

North  Pembroke. 

Dolby,  Albert  T.  . 

Pembroke  . 

Aug.          1865, 

Typhoid-fever, 

Pembroke. 

Druker,  Henry 

Amherst 

March   6,1882, 

Heart-disease  . 

Amherst. 

Estes,  Benjamin    . 
Haddlock,  George 

Sandwich    . 
Centre  Harbor   . 

July     29,  1866, 

Consumption  . 

Sandwich. 
Centre  Harbor. 

Haggett,  Stephen  N.     . 
Hill,  JohnD.  H.    . 

Newton 
Sandwich    . 

Jan.     19.  1882, 

1874, 

Consumption  . 

Newton. 
Sandwich. 

Kelley,  Ellery  C.  . 

Epsom 

Feb.     13,  1878, 

Heart-disease  . 

Epsom. 

Magoon,  Asa 

Sandwich    . 

Jan.       2,  1875, 

_           _ 

Sandwich. 

Nelson,  John  W.  . 

Concord 

July     20,  1879, 

Fever 

Concord. 

Pearl,  James  W. 

Total        .        .      14 

430 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE    IX. 

ROLL    OF    SURVIVORS. 

FIELD,     STAFF,    AND    NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 

Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Samuel  A.  Duncan 

Englewood,  N.J. 

Lawyer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

William  A.  Heard  . 

Centre  Sandwich 

Clerk  of  sup.  court  . 

Married    . 

Three. 

William  Henry  Tbayer  . 

Brooklyn,  N.Y. 

Physician  . 

Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Marshall  Perkins     . 

Marlow       .        .        . 

Physician  . 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Thrco. 

William  H.  Bryant 

Rutland,  Vt.      . 

Clerk  Howe  Scale  Co. 

Single. 

Albert  F.  Hussey    . 

Dover 

Merchant  . 

Married. 

COMPANY    A. 


Frank  T.  Barker     . 

Bradford,  Penn. 

Oil-producer 

Married. 

Charles  P.  Hall 

Hinsdale    . 

Teacher 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Norman  Howe 

Hinsdale 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Russell  F.  Smith     . 

Hinsdale     . 

Boss  spinner 

Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Henry  B.  Fay  . 

Virginia  City,  Nev.  . 

Expressman 

Married    . 

One. 

Elbridge  Smith 

Gilsum 

Farmer 

Married 

Three, 

One. 

Holland  Wheeler    . 

Brattleboro',  Vt. 

Dairyman  . 

Married    . 

One. 

A.  Henry  Latham  . 

Ilinsclale     . 

Mechanic   . 

Married    . 

Two. 

F.  Eugene  Hastings 

North  Hinsdale 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Bethuel  J.  Davis     . 

Bellows'  Falls,  Vt.    . 

Car-inspector    . 

Married    . 

_ 

Une. 

Jewett  P.  Wellman 

Hinsdale    . 

Invalid 

Single. 

Adams,  Frederick  M.     . 

New-  York  City 

Stenographer    . 

Married. 

Barrett,  Jacob 

llinsdale     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Bigelow,  Milton  W. 
Britton,  George  II. 

Plantsville,  Conn. 
Westmoreland  . 

Metal  pattern-maker, 
Laborer 

Married     . 
Single. 

Three, 

One. 

Brock,  Charles  E.   . 

Butler,  John  II. 

Chesterfield       .        . 

Laborer 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Carroll,  Horace 

Salmon  Falls     . 

Shoemaker 

Married. 

Coggin,  John  H. 

Amherst     .        .        . 

Farmer       .         . 

Widower  . 

Two. 

Daggett,  Albert  M. 

Cornton,  Vt. 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One. 

Derby,  Charles  L.  . 

Westmoreland  . 

Farmer       .        .        . 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Evans,  Nelson  R.    . 

Greenfield,  Mass. 

Brakeman  . 

Married. 

Fisher,  Lyman  H.  . 

Winchester 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three, 

Two. 

Fiske,  Charles  R.    . 

Dublin 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Fleming,  Joseph  Q-. 

Mondovi,  Wis.  . 

Lumberman 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Fuller,  David  J. 

Brooklyn,  N.Y. 

Dentist 

Married. 

Gary,  Timothy  M.  . 

Brattleboro',  Vt. 

Fireman     . 

Married. 

Good,  Benjamin 

Chicago,  111.       . 

Hostler 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Goodnow,  Edwin  J. 

Westmoreland  . 

Mechanic   . 

Single. 

Greeley,  James  K.  . 

Westmoreland  . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

_ 

Three. 

Hall,  Franklin  J.     . 

Putney,  Vt. 

Carpenter  . 

Married    . 

Three, 

Two. 

Hamilton,  Thomas  C.     . 

Hanrahan,  Martin  . 

West  Swanzey  . 

Overseer  in  mill 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Holden,  Leonard  S. 

Monmouth,  111.  . 

Clerk. 

Single. 

Horton,  Charles  H. 

Junction  City,  Kan. 

Police  judge 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Kenney,  Chauncey 

Springfield,  Vt. 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

King,  John  L. 

Hinsdale    . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Four  . 

One. 

Knowlton,  Asa 

Dublin        .        .      .. 

Fanner 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Knowlton,  Luke,  jun.     . 

Marlborough     . 

Wooden-ware  mfr.   . 

Married    . 

Two. 

Leach,  Samuel  L     . 

M<-l,r:in,  111.       . 

Book-keeper      . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Lewis,  George  W.  . 

Hinsdale    . 

Machinist  . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Lewis,  Reuben  A.  . 

Hinndalc     . 

Machinist  . 

Married. 

Liscom,  L.  Frank    . 

Hinsdale    . 

Fanner 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Liscom,  Samuel  E. 

Hinsdale    . 

Farmer      . 

Married 

— 

Two. 

ROLL  OF  SURVIVORS. 


431 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  A  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 

Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

McCollester,  Sumner  L. 

No.  Lawrence,  N.Y. 

Wooden  -ware  mfr.  . 

Married    . 

One. 

Mason,  Allison  Z.  . 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Merchant   . 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Mason,  David  . 

Dublin 

Farmer 

Single. 

Mason,  James  B. 

Westmoreland  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Matthews,  Edwin  B. 
Merrifield,  Simeon,  jun., 

Marl  borough     . 
Turner's  Falls,  Mass. 

Blacksmith        ^ 
Painter 

Married 
Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Four. 

Mitchell,  John  E.    . 

Westmoreland  . 

Painter 

Widower  . 

On'e    . 

Two. 

Packard,  Alonzo  C. 

Gaysville,  Vt.    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

Three. 

Pet-ham,  Elbridge  . 

Brattleboro' 

Carpenter  . 

Married    . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Pierce,  William  II. 

Keene 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

One    . 

Polley,  Charles  F.  . 

Hinsdale    . 

Finish'r,  woollen-mill, 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Ilawson,  Isaac  "W.  . 

East  Westmoreland  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Richardson,  David  L.     . 

East  Sullivan.    . 

Farmer       .        : 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Kobbins,  George  B. 

Grant  City,  Iowa 

Farmer 

Married. 

Smith,  Orson  G. 

Hinsdale    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

Five. 

Snow,  Joel  L. 

Hoosic  Falls,  N.Y.   . 

Machinist  . 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Sprugue,  Andrew   . 

Greenwich,  N.Y.      . 

Leather-board  mfr.  . 

Married    . 

One. 

Streeter,  Isaiah  C.  . 

Hinsdale    . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three, 

Two. 

Thomas,  Henry  A. 

Timothy,  Frederick  A.  . 

Rochester,  N.Y. 

Laborer 

Married. 

Ward  well,  George  O.     . 

Keene 

Carpenter  . 

Married. 

Welch,  Michael  '     . 

Wheeler,  Lyman  K. 

Fitzwilliam 

Mechanic   . 

Single. 

Whitcomb,  Franklin  C.  . 

Perry,  Iowa 

Farmer 

Married. 

AVoodward   Hiram          . 

One    . 

Five. 

Wright,  George  A. 

Hinsdale    . 

Finish'r,  woollen-mill, 

Married    . 

One. 

COMPANY    B. 


John  G.  Johnson  . 

New  York,  N.Y.       . 

Physician  . 

Married     . 

One. 

Artemas  M.  Adams 

Buffalo,  N.Y.    . 

Painter 

Married     . 

_ 

Five. 

Charles  E.  Holbrook    . 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt.     . 

Merchant  . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Henry  E.  Barrett  . 

New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Baker 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Henry  Knight 

Middletown.  O. 

Plumber  &  contract'r, 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Charles  H.  Jennison     . 

Chicago,  111.       . 

Grain  and  feed  . 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

George  A.  White  . 

Charlestown 

Farmer 

Single. 

Frank  O.  Pierce    . 

West  Foxboro',  Mass. 

Box-maker 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Austin  H.  Wolf    . 

White  River  June.  ,Vt. 

Livery-stable  keeper, 

Married     . 

One    . 

Five. 

Clement  G.  Lane  . 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt.     . 

Butcher 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Charles  Hartwell  . 

Providence,  R.I. 

Machinist  . 

Married     . 

One. 

Jonathan  A.  Turner     . 

Ayer,  Mass. 

Furniture-maker 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Charles  H.  Gilbert 

Andover,  Mass. 

Dentist 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Chauncey  L.  Corbin 

Charlestown 

Merchant   . 

Married    . 

One. 

Abbott,  Warren    . 

Keene 

Machinist  . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Adams,  John  Loren 

Charlestown 

Saloon-keeper  . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Adams,  Lewis 

Langdon     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Six. 

Adams,  Norman  L. 

Saxton's  River,  Vt.  . 

Farmer 

Married 

One     • 

Two. 

Bailey,  Emanuel  D.  Q-. 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.  . 

_               _ 

Single. 

Benson,  Ellery  C. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.   . 

R.R.  ticket-seller      . 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Brackett,  Freeman  E.  . 

South  Acworth 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Brown,  Charles  H. 

Keene 

R.R.  engineer    . 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Brown,  Rodney  J. 

Stoddard    . 

Hotel-keeper     . 

Married    . 

One    . 

Three. 

Brown,  William  H.      . 

Bundy,  Amasa  T. 

Groton,  Mass.  . 

Farmer  &  carpenter, 

Married    . 

Three, 

Two. 

Caldwell,  Daniel  F.       . 

Surry 

Farmer 

Married. 

Caldwell,  Joseph  W.    . 

Gilsum 

Farmer 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Casey,  John. 

Colburn,  Wilson  W. 

Cooley,  John  F.     . 

Charlestown 

Laborer 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Corbin,  James  W. 

Charlestown 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    • 

One. 

Cornwell,  Richard  B.    . 

Brookfield,  Mass.      . 

Boot-maker 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Dickey,  George  P. 

Alstead 

Farmer 

Married 

- 

One. 

Easter,  Henry 

Charlestown 

Can-maker 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Gassett,  Ira  H. 

432 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  B  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Gates,  Henry  H. 

Gowen,  Charles  R. 
Gowen,  George  M. 

Springfield,  Mass.     . 
Keene 

Hotel-keeper 
Stable-keeper    . 

Married     . 
Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 
One. 

Grandy,  James  C. 

Concord 

Auctioneer  &  conv'r, 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Graves,  Frank  B.  . 

Keene     v    . 

Bar-tender 

Married. 

Green,  Charles  A. 

Green,  Hiram 

Charlestown 

Farmer 

Married. 

Hatch,  Edward  P. 

Alstead  Centre  . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Hopkins,  John 

Alstead  Centre  . 

Carpenter  . 

Married    . 

Two  . 

One. 

Kanelion,  Michael 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt.    . 

Laborer 

Married. 

Kelly,  John   . 
Kenyon,  David  T. 

Albion,  N.Y.     . 
Keene 

Leather-splitter 
Mechanic   . 

Married     . 
Married    . 

One    . 

Three, 

Three. 
Two. 

Keyes,  Alfred  G.  . 

Girard,  Kan. 

Dentist 

Married     . 

One. 

Knapp,  Charles  H. 

New  York,  N.Y.      . 

Travelling  salesman, 

Married    . 

One. 

Leland,  Van  Buren. 

Lynds,  George  H. 
McKean,  Patrick  . 

East  Hampton,  Ct.    . 
Worcester,  Mass. 

Overseer  thread-mill, 
Shoemaker 

Married     . 
Married    . 

One. 
Two  . 

Two. 

McMahan,  Michael. 

Cal. 

McMann,  William 

San  Francisco,  Cal.  . 

Livery-stable     . 

Single. 

Melville,  Charles  H.      . 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Shoemaker 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Munroc,  Ora  . 

Marlow 

Farmer 

Married 

_ 

Two. 

O'Brien,  Patrick    . 

Sacramento,  Cal. 

Shoemaker 

Married    . 

Three, 

Three. 

Parks,  George  W. 

North  Charlestown  . 

Farmer       .        . 

Married 

Two   . 

Two. 

Porter,  Charles  E. 

Alstead 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Reason,  Henry. 

Roundy,  Edwin  E. 

Charlestown 

R.R.  fireman 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Roundy,  Franklin  W.  . 

Gilsum 

Operative  . 

Married. 

Runirill,  Lucius     . 

Charlestown 

Farmer 

Single. 

Sherman,  George  A.     . 

Keene 

Sash  &  blind  manuf. 

Married. 

Smith,  Erastus 

Keene 

Teamster  . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Spencer,  Benjamin  E.  . 

So.  Lancaster,  Mass. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Four. 

Spooner,  Stephen  A.    . 

Charlestown 

Carpenter  &  builder, 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Sullivan,  Thomas  O.     . 

Charlestown 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Tahen,  Thomas     . 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt.     . 

Shoemaker 

Married    . 

One    . 

Four. 

Templeman.Elnathan  R. 

New  Britain,  Conn. 

Contractor 

Married     . 

One. 

Warn,  William      . 

Walpole     . 

Painter  &  paper-ban. 

Married 

Two. 

Wetherbee,  Edward  H. 

East  Westmoreland, 

Canvasser  . 

Single. 

Willis,  Paul  S.       . 

East  Westmoreland, 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Two  . 

One. 

Wilson,  Charles  E. 

Wilson,  Rockwell  B.    . 

Boston,  Mass.   . 

Salesman   ... 

Married     . 

_ 

Nine. 

Wright,  Charles  H.       . 

Langdon     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

COMPANY  C. 


Ira  Berry,  jun. 
Carroll  D.  Wright 

Portland,  Me.    . 
Boston,  Mass.    . 

Merchant  . 

Statistician 

Married     . 
Married    . 

- 

One. 
Two. 

Jeremiah  Lyford  . 

Ocean  Grove,  N.J.   . 

_              _ 

Married. 

Daniel  K.  Healey  . 

Keene 

Lawyer 

Married     . 

One. 

George  W.  Nye     . 

Nashua 

Canvasser  . 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Reuben  H.  Combs 

Franklin  Falls  . 

_ 

Married    . 

Two    . 

One. 

William  Sebastian 

Keene 

Mechanic  . 

Married     . 

_ 

Three. 

Charles  H.  Gove    . 

Troy  .... 

Invalid 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Ceylon  S.  Davis     . 

E.  Somerville,  Mass. 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

One.  . 

Two. 

Enoch  Foster 

Maryborough     . 

Watchman 

Married    . 

- 

One. 

George  W.  B.  Coffee. 

Adelbert  A.  Houghton, 
Joseph  Burcham  . 

Keene 
Westmoreland  . 

Locomotive  engineer, 
Miller 

Married     . 
Married     . 

One. 

Three. 

Adams,  Alphonso  A.    . 

Marlborough     .        . 

Carpenter  .        .       . 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Barber,  Charles  H. 

Barber,  Chas.  II.,  jun.  . 

Chicago,  111. 

Conductor 

Married    . 

- 

One. 

Barber,  John. 

Barnes,  William. 

Burbank,  Franklin 

Cornish  Flat      . 

Painter      ... 

Married    . 

WOUNDED  IN  BATTLE. 


433 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  C  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children 

Burgess,  William. 

Boy  ft. 

Girls. 

Byam,  Benjamin  W.     . 

Fitzwilliam 

Farmer       .        .        . 

Married     . 

Two    . 

One. 

Carroll,  George  Henry, 

Kt-ene 

Brick-mason      .        . 

Married     . 

Five    . 

Two. 

Coates,  Darwin  C. 

Cornish  Flat      . 

Peddler      .        .        . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Collins,  Perley  E. 

Great  Bend,  Kan.     . 

Carpenter  . 

Married 

_ 

One. 

Collins,  William    . 

Falls  Village,  Conn. 

Mill  superintendent  . 

Married     . 

Five    . 

Two. 

Combs,  Carroll  L. 

W.  Dummerston,  Vt. 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Combs,  Roland  M. 

Orange,  Mass.   . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Combs,  William    . 

W.  Dummerston,  Vt. 

Miller 

Married     . 

Two    . 

One. 

Conner,  James. 

Cummings,  Joseph  W. 

Keene 

Laborer     . 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Davis,  Amasa 

Swanzey    . 

Davis,  Isaac  A.      . 

Marlborough     . 

Truckman 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Dyer,  Peter. 

Fifield,  George  W. 

Fuller,  Edward  F. 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Gallagher,  Frank  . 

Keene 

Laborer 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Gilmore,  Charles  G.      . 

Keene 

Hardwood  finisher   . 

Married     . 

One    . 

Four. 

Gorman,  Michael  . 

Keene 

Laborer 

Married. 

Hayden,  Thomas  D. 

Fitzwilliam 

Stone-cutter 

Widower  . 

_ 

One. 

Hill,  Charles  H.     . 

Plainfield  . 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

Three, 

Six. 

Holbrook,  Henry  D.     . 

Swanzey. 

Holman,  Ira  B. 

Keene 

Stone-mason 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Howard,  Ambrose  W.  . 

Keene 

Mason 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Kingsbury,  Henry 

Chesterfield 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Four. 

Leach,  James 

Keene 

Mechanic   . 

Married    . 

Two. 

Mattoon,  Charles  W.    . 

Northfield,  Mass.      . 

Farmer 

Single. 

Mattoon,  Samuel  . 

Northfield,  Mass. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

Three. 

Morse,  Ansil  A.     . 

Montrose,  Mich. 

Teacher 

Married     . 

One. 

Nash,  Horace  H.    . 

New  York 

_               _ 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Parker,  John  A.    . 

Keene 

Dairyman  . 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Philbrick,  Charles  W. 

Pope,  Theodore. 

Ramsdell,  Joseph  H.    . 

Fitzwilliam 

Laborer 

Married    . 

Reynolds,  Eli  W.  . 

Richmond. 

Richardson,  Delevan  C. 

Marlborough 

Machinist  . 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Shattuck,  Frank. 

Sherman,  Peter. 

Slyfield,  Franklin  . 

Brattleboro' 

Teamster  . 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Smith,  William 

Peterboro'. 

Starkey,  Horace  B. 

Freeville,  N.Y. 

Stevenson,  Charles  E. 

Stone,  Julius  O.    . 

Wilsonville,  Neb.     . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Six      . 

Three. 

Stone,  Seaman  A.  . 

Chicago,  111. 

Weigher     .        '. 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Stone,  Stillman  S. 

Fitzwilliam 

Miller 

Single. 

Stone,  William  W. 

Keene 

Ice-peddler 

Married. 

Tolman,  Sidney  E. 

Denmark,  Me.  . 

Wood  en  -ware  manuf. 

Totten,  Christopher      . 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich. 

Watchman 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

Totten,  James 

Ionia,  Mich.       . 

Foreman,  brickyard, 

Married     . 

Three. 

Ward,  Harrison  R. 

South  Keene 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Whitcomb,  Darius  H.  . 

Fitzwilliam 

Painter 

Widower  . 

Two   . 

One. 

Whitcomb,  Wright 

Fitzwilliam 

Mechanic  . 

Married    . 

Two   . 

One. 

Wilbur,  Chandler  A.    . 

Orford. 

COMPANY    D. 


Caleb  W.  Hodgdon 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Dentist 

Single. 

John  N.  Bruce 

Manchester 

Furn'g  undertaker    . 

Married     . 

One. 

Elbridge  D.  Hadley 

Lu  Verne,  Minn. 

Lawyer  and  banker  . 

Married. 

John  V.  Bowie 

Weare 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

George  N.  Janvrin 

Amesbury,  Mass. 

Carriage-dealer 

Married     . 

Two. 

John  W.  Locke 

Seabrook    . 

Merchant   . 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Moses  Wadleigh    . 

Manchester 

Clerk. 

Married. 

Charles  Hastings  . 

Warrensburg,  III. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Francis  Beckman  . 

Seabrook    . 

Sboemaker 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Three. 

Thomas  J.  Wiggin 

Manchester 

Milk-dealer 

Married     . 

434 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IX. — COWPANY  D — Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 

Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Josiah  Gove 

Pittslield    . 

Foreman  shoe-fact'yi 

Married. 

Stephen  M.  Wilson 

Manchester 

Brush-maker     . 

Married. 

Otis  G.  Cillev  . 

East  Weare 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Augustine  W.  Collins 

Minneapolis,  Minn.  . 

Millwright 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Henry  H.  Titcomb. 

John  L.  Collins. 

Addison,  John 

Newton 

_                   _ 

Single. 

Beale,  Sumner 

Seabrook    . 

Shoe-manufacturer  . 

Married. 

Blake,  George 

Kensington 

Grocer 

Single. 

Boyd,  Daniel    . 

Seabrook    . 

Shoemaker 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Boyd,  Lewis 

East  Salisbury,  Mass 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

Two    . 

Two. 

Breed,  Enoch  W.     . 

Weare 

Merchant  and  farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Brown,  Ira  E.  . 

Kensington 

Shoemaker         . 

Married     . 

One    . 

Brown,  Webster 

Seabrook    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Bruce,  John  R. 

Manchester 

Undertaker,  etc. 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Butler,  Walter  N.    . 

Hampton  Falls  . 

Shoemaker 

Single. 

Chapin,  Charles  A.  . 

Keene 

Butcher      . 

Married. 

Chase,  Nathaniel 

Wilmot      . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One. 

Chase,  Stephen  W.  . 

Seabrook   . 

Shoemaker 

Single. 

Colby,  John  B. 

South  Weare     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One. 

Couch,  Stephen  C.  . 

Kidder,  Mo.       . 

Carpenter  . 

Married 

Two. 

Crane,  Solomon  J.  . 

Suncook     . 

Day,  Henry  C. 

Arnherst     . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One. 

Dow,  Simeon  L. 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Shoemaker 

Single. 

Davis,  Daniel  S. 

Eaton,  Abner  L. 

South  Seabrook 

Shoemaker 

Married 

Two   . 

Three. 

Eaton,  Robert  C.     . 

Seabrook   . 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Eastman,  Morrill  S. 

Ellsworth,  Joseph. 

Emery,  Parker  A.   . 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Stationery  engineer  . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Favor,  Nelson  H.     . 

Laconia 

Hosier 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Godfrey,  Oliver  H.  . 

Hampton    . 

Carpenter  . 

Married    . 

Two. 

Godfrey,  Jacob  T.   . 

Hampton    . 

Engineer    . 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Gove,  Albert    . 

Seabrook   . 

Carpenter  . 

Married    . 

Four  . 

Three. 

Gould,  Humphrey  N. 

Bradford    . 

Lumber  manufact'r  . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Gillespie,  James  A. 

Haladay,  George  C. 

Henniker   .        . 

Teamster    . 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Hayes,  Joseph  B.     . 

Richmond,  Ind. 

Railroad  conductor  . 

Married. 

Heffron,  Patrick 

Hodgdon,  William  H.     . 

Kensington 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Janvrin,  John  S. 

Seabrook    . 

Shoemaker 

Married 

Two   . 

Two. 

Janvrin,  Joshua 

East  Salisbury,  Mass. 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Four. 

Jones,  Eliphalet 

Weare 

Shoe-cutter        .        . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Kimbiill,  Charles  B. 

Leavitt,  Jeremiah  K. 

Kensington 

Invalid 

Single. 

Leonard,  James. 

March,  George  W.  . 

Danville     . 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Marston,  Otis  H. 

Hampton    • 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Marston,  William  W.      . 

W.  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Direct,  st.  fire  engine. 

Married    . 

One     . 

Mayo,  Joseph  . 

Brookline,  Mass. 

Stone-dealer 

Married    . 

One     . 

One. 

McKelleps,  Harvey  J.     . 

North  Weare    . 

Mechanic   .        .        . 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Moffitt,  Frank  T.     . 

Littleton     . 

Physician  . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Morrill,  James 

East  Canaan 

Farmer 

Single. 

Muzzey,  Warren  H. 

Hillsboro'  Bridge      . 

Invalid 

Married. 

Osborne,  Jesse  B.    . 

Weare 

Wood  and  lum.  dTr, 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Peacock,  Hyla  D.    . 

Kensington 

Invalid 

Married     . 

Two. 

Peasley,  Edwin  N.  . 

Deering      .        *        . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

_ 

One. 

Randall,  William  H. 

Seabrook   . 

Shoemaker         .        . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Stott,  Charles  . 

Swett,  George  W.   . 
Terrill,  Benjamin     . 

Montreal,  P.Q.  . 
East  Canaan 

Hotel  manager  . 
Farmer 

Married     . 
Married    . 

One     . 
Two   . 

One. 
Two. 

Thompson,  Samuel  E.     . 

Charlestown,  Mass.  . 

Cook. 

Thurston,  Peleg  B. 

North  Weare     . 

Mechanic   . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Wallace,  Silas  R.     . 

Manchester        .        . 

Weaver 

Married. 

White,  Philander  C. 

Concord 

MarbU-cutter    . 

Married. 

Whitney,  Leonard  F. 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Hotel-clerk 

Married. 

Wright,  James  A.    . 

N.  Montpelier,  Vt.    . 

Factory  employee     . 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

ROLL   OF  SURVIVORS. 


435 


TABLE  IX.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    E. 


NAME. 

Residence.                     Occupation. 

Married  or 

Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Soys. 

Girls. 

William  Cobleigh    . 

Grafton,  Dak.   . 

Clergyman.        ,        . 

Married     . 

One. 

Franklin  Wheeler   . 

Berlin  Mills       . 

Mechanic   .        .        . 

Married     . 

Two. 

John  A.  Harriman 

Wis. 

Thomas  J.  Lary 

West  Milan 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Two. 

David  S.  Harvey      . 

South  Boston,  Mass. 

Machinist  . 

William  A.  Willis   . 

Milan 

Farmer 

Married     . 

George  W.  Purington     . 

Chocorua. 

Ormarido  Lary 

Milan 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three, 

One. 

Theodore  Moran 

George  K.  Holmes  . 

Jefferson. 

Abel  H.  Wesson      . 

Applebee,  George   . 

Meadows   . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Five    . 

One. 

Bull,  Emery  M.  D.  . 

Stratford. 

Bartlett,  George  S.  . 

Bean,  Caleb  F. 

Milan. 

Blair,  William 

Milan. 

Boutwell,  Frank      . 

Waterford,  Vt.  . 

_              _ 

Cobleigh,  Charles    . 

West  Milan. 

Colby,  Moses   . 

Whitefield 

Farmer 

Widower. 

Cotton,  Aaron  . 

Crawford,  Bryant  E. 

Boston 

Livery-stable     . 

Married. 

Cross,  A.lanson. 

Curtis,  Moses  S. 

Shiocton,  Wis. 

Lumberman 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Dolan,  John. 

Dow,  Alderi  A. 

Lancaster. 

Dustin,  Joseph  H. 

Eastman,  Darius  G. 

West  Milan 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Two    . 

Four. 

Ellingwood,  Oscar  P.      . 

North  Paris,  Me.       . 

Manufacturer    . 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Elliott,  Benjamin  F. 

North  Littleton 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One    . 

Three. 

Emery,  Nathaniel    . 

Stark. 

Evans,  Edwin  F. 

Evans,  John  C. 

Gorham. 

Evans,  William 

liumford  Point,  Me. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Folsom,  Stephen  P. 

Milan. 

Blacksmith  &  farmer, 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Forbes,  Erastus  W. 

Gorhara 

Engineer    .        .        . 

Married    . 

Three, 

One. 

Gaskell,  Itufus  D.   . 

Waterford,  Vt. 

Blacksmith 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Goodnow,  Henry     . 

West  Milan 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Four. 

Goud,  George  S. 

Milan  Corner     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Grey,  Jared 

Lancaster  . 

Carpenter  &  farmer  . 

Married 

Two   . 

One. 

Greenlaw,  John  W. 

Gorham. 

Griffin,  Daniel 

Gorham 

Laborer 

Married    . 

Seven, 

Three. 

Hastings,  John  G. 

Hawkins,  Alpheus  W.    . 

Milan. 

Henderson,  John. 

Henson,  Charles 

Grove  ton. 

Henson,  Moses 

Groveton. 

Hogan,  William  D. 

Holbrook,  Roswell  . 

Fairlee,  Vt. 

Holbrook,  William  W.  . 

Stark.        .        .        , 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three, 

One. 

Hodge,  Ida  A.  . 

Guildhall,  Vt.   . 

Millman     . 

Married     . 

Three, 

Four. 

Hubbard,  James  O. 

Whitetield. 

Ingerson,  George  W. 

Jefferson. 

Johnson,  William  W. 

Jordon,  Harry  W.           t 

Lary,  Andrew  J. 

Milan  . 

Lumberman 

Married. 

Larry,  Edolph 

Milan. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Leonard,  Henry  O. 
Lovejoy,  John  B.     . 

West  Milan 

Farmer  &  book  agt.  . 

Married    . 

One    . 

Four. 

Lyons,  Patrick. 

Marshall,  Freeman  . 

Stockton,  Cal. 

Mathy,  John  Edward. 

Massure,  Erastus     . 

Portland,  Me. 

Morse,  John 

Littleton. 

Moulton,  Benjamin  F. 

436 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  TX.  —  COMPANY  E  —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Murphy,  James. 
Neal,  William  H. 

Nutter,  Charles  E. 

Orcutt,  John  D. 

Jefferson    .        .        . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Ordway,  Daniel. 

Oswald,  Carl  B. 

Page,  Henry     . 

Milan.        .        .        . 

Farmer  &  lumb'rm'n, 

Married    . 

Five    . 

Two. 

Perham,  Leonard. 

Pike,  John  I). 

Rich,  Spaulding  S. 

Whitefield. 

Richardson,  Lemuel  M. 

Rowe,  James  M. 

No.  Cherryfield,  Me. 

Rug?,  Sewall  F.       . 

Chesterfield 

Farmer 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Sabine,  Frank. 

Seavey,  W.  H. 

Sessions,  Sumner    . 

Rumford,  Me.    . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Seven, 

Three. 

Stalbird,  William  H.  H.  . 

Dalton. 

Stillings,  Ruel  P.     . 

Jefferson    . 

Blacksmith. 

Stone,  Munroe  J.     . 

Groveton   . 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Terry,  Joseph  . 

Twitchell,  Charles  M.     . 

Shiocton,  Wis.  . 

Farmer      .        .        . 

Married    . 

Two    . 

Two. 

Wallace,  Asahel  K. 

Lisbon. 

Watson,  Pembroke  S. 

Wentworth,  Thomas. 

Wheeler,  Algier  B. 

Stratford. 

Whipp.  Charles  A. 

Lancaster  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

York,  Horace  . 

Milan  Corner     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Young,  Antipas. 

Young,  David. 

COMPANY    F. 


Stephen  Phelpa 

Simcoe,  Ont. 

Gentleman 

Married    . 

One. 

George  G.  Martin    . 

Orange,  Mass.   . 

Canvasser  . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

John  F.  Hunt  . 

Swanzey    . 

Blacksmith 

Married     . 

Five    . 

Three. 

Henry  H.  Howe 

Chesterfield  Factory, 

Mechanic   .        .        . 

Married     . 

One     . 

Three. 

Charles  G.  Howard 

Springfield,  Mass.     . 

Gardener   . 

Married     . 

One. 

Novatus  Graves 

So.  Deerfield,  Mass.  . 

Blacksmith 

Single. 

U.  Barrett  Fosgate  . 

Winchester 

Mechanic   .         .        •• 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Henry  E.  Baldwin  . 

Athol,  Mass. 

Laborer      .        •-       •«. 

Single. 

Calvin  P.  Gilson      . 

Putney,  Vt. 

Landlord   . 

Married    . 

One     . 

Two. 

Ball,  Charles  W.  W. 
Bancroft,  Clinton  A. 

New-York  City 
Worcester,  Mass. 

Buyer  and  speculator, 
Teamster   .        .        . 

Married. 
Married     . 

One. 

Barden,  Abner  S.     . 

Richmond  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Bolton,  James  H.     . 

Ashuelot    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Boyd,  Jeremiah  T.  . 

Britton,  Frederick  F. 

Surry          .        .        . 

Invalid       .        .  •     . 

Single. 

Buffum,  Francis  H. 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Journalist  . 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Casey,  John 

Casey,  Thomas 

Portland,  Me.    .        . 

Invalid       .        .        . 

Single. 

Clark,  Charles  A. 

Clogley,  John. 

Cohen,  Isaac 

Savannah,  Ga. 

Colburn,  Charles  O. 

Brattleboro',  Vt. 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Colburn,  Henry 

Baldwinsville,  Mass. 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three. 

Conley,  James  Henry     . 

Monticello,  Ark. 

Brickmaker 

Single. 

Converse,  Julius  C. 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Machinist  .        .        . 

Married     . 

One. 

Cummings,  John 

Lincoln,  Neb.    . 

Laborer      .        .        . 

Single. 

Darling,  Calvin  G.  . 

Chesterfield 

Farmer 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Davis,  Murray          .        , 

Chesterfield 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Day,  George  A. 
Eaton,  Loren,  jun.  . 

Ilinsdale     . 
Chesterfield 

Carpenter  .        .        . 
Farmer 

Married     . 
Married     . 

One. 

One. 

Englebrick,  John     . 

ROLL   OF  SURVIVORS. 


437 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  F—  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 

Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Farr,  Bradford  C.    . 
Farr,  Chauncey  S.  . 

Chesterfield  Factory, 
Hinsdale     . 

Miller 

Machinist  . 

Married     . 
Widower  . 

One. 
Two. 

Farr,  Lark  in  L>. 

West  Chesterfield     . 

Merchant   . 

Married 

One. 

Farr,  Wesley  O.      . 

West  Burke,  Vt.       . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Field,  Marshall 

Pembroke  . 

Frost,  Sumner  F.     . 

Groveton   . 

Trader 

Married    . 

_ 

Four. 

Hared,  John     . 

Harris,  Lorenzo,  jun. 

Orange,  Mass.    . 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Hastings,  Foster  W. 

South  Charlestown   . 

Fanner 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Hastings,  Herbert  R. 

North  Hinsdale 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One. 

Hill,  George     . 

Hill,  Taylor  E. 
Holbrook,  Charles  H.     . 

Chesterfield  Factory, 
Westport   . 

Farmer       . 
Farmer 

Single. 
Married     . 

One. 

Holbrook,  Georgo  B. 
Hutchins,  Henry  E. 

Holyoke,  Mass. 
Sioux  City,  la.  . 

Paper  manufacturer, 

Married    . 

One     . 

One. 

Hyde,  Ira  D.    . 

So.  Durham,  P.Q.     . 

Invalid 

Widower  . 

Two. 

King,  Peter 

Lambert,  Perrin 

West  Milan 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Three, 

Two. 

Lewis,  Sumner 

Lincoln,  Lucien  O.  . 

Chesterfield  Factory, 

Laborer 

Married    . 

Two   . 

One. 

McKay,  James. 

Martin,  James. 

Merrifield,  Frank  O. 

Winona,  Minn. 

Farmer. 

Moore,  John  H. 

Gr.  Cove  Spr'gs,  Fla. 

Morey,  William  A.  . 

Westport  . 

Pail-turner 

Married    . 

One    . 

One. 

Morse,  James  W. 

Murdock,  Robert  E. 

Prairie  Grove,  Wis.  . 

Farmer 

Single. 

Murdock,  Verwill  Q.  D.  . 

Springfield,  Mass.     . 

Mechanic    . 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Nims,  George  H.     . 

Bellows'  Falls,  Vt.   . 

Tinsmith    . 

Married    . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Perry,  George  F.     . 

Marlborough     . 

Mechanic   . 

Married    . 

Three, 

Three. 

Pheany,  Andrew 

Portland,  Me.    . 

Invalid 

Single. 

Reede,  Charles  P.    . 

Winchester 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Roark,  Francis 
Rourke,  John  . 

Ashuelot    . 
South  Hampton 

Mill  operative   . 

Married     . 

One. 

Scott,  George  D.      . 

West  Chesterfield     . 

Invalid 

Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Smith,  Edward  O.  . 

Winchester 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

One. 

Smith,  Henry  . 

Gilsum 

Snow,  Henry  H. 

West  Chesterfield     . 

Farmer 

Single. 

Thayer,  Edward  F. 

Greenfield,  Mass. 

Mechanic   . 

Married 

Two. 

Thompson,  Daniel  H.     . 

Winchester 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Seven. 

Tiboux,  Peter  . 

Gilsum 

Tuttle,  John  B. 

Seabrook    . 

Ward,  George  P.     . 

Troy  .... 

Wood-turner     . 

Married. 

Welles,  Sidney  I.    . 

G  or  ham 

Farmer 

Married 

Two. 

Wheeler,  Charles  W.      . 

Wilbur,  Henry  L.   . 

Surry 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Wright,  L.  Warren 

Keene 

Travelling  salesman, 

Married     . 

- 

Two. 

COMPANY    G. 


Solon  A.  Carter 

Concord     . 

State  treasurer  . 

Married     . 

Two. 

C.  Fred  Webster      . 

Keene 

Lawyer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Spencer  L.  Bailey    . 

Fredonia,  N.Y. 

Banker 

Married 

_ 

One. 

Flavel  L.  Tolman    . 

Leomister,  Mass. 

Furniture  manufac'r, 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

John  W.  Sturtevant 

Keene 

Merchant   .        . 

Married     . 

Two. 

James  W.  Russell   . 

Keene 

Merchant   .         . 

Married    . 

One. 

Edward  B.  Howard 

Chicago,  111.      . 

Pork-packer 

ATnrried. 

Samuel  L.  Gerould 
Maro  J.  Chamberlain 

Goft'stown  . 
Frisco,  Utah      . 

Clergyman 
Miner 

Married     . 

Single. 

Three, 

Three. 

Calvin  K.  Day  . 

Detroit,  Minn.  . 

Merchant   . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

George  Kehue  . 
James  II.  Hunt 

Boston,  Mass.    . 
Nashua 

Cigar-maker 
City  marshal 

Married    . 
Married 

One     . 
One. 

One. 

Asa  W.  Davis  . 

Hartford,  Conn. 

Bottler  of  soda-water, 

Married. 

Thomas  S.  Mower  . 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Machinist  . 

Widower  . 

One. 

Two. 

Austin  A.  Spaulding 

Concord     . 

Vocalist     .        . 

Married     . 

One. 

438 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  G —  Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Allen,  Calvin,  jun.  . 

West  Rindge     . 

Mechanic  &  farmer  . 

Married. 

Bahaw,  John    . 

Lowell,  Mass.    . 

Carder 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Barrett,  William  A. 

Keene         .        . 

Brickmaker 

Married 

Three, 

Three. 

Blodgett,  .Sylvester 

Keene 

Butcher      . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Brown,  James  T.     . 

Jatirey 

Fanner 

Married     . 

One     . 

Four. 

Buckwold,  Jacob     . 

East  Jaffrey 

Invalid        .        .        . 

Married     . 

Five    . 

Three. 

Burns,  Patrick 

Keene 

Brick-mason      .        . 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

Burns,  Thomas  F.  . 

West  Peterboro' 

Spinner       .         .         . 

Married     . 

Two. 

Cooper,  Albert 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Expressman      . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Cutter,  Edward  E.  . 

Marlboro'  . 

Stone-work        . 

Married. 

Cutter,  Edwin  It.     . 

East  Jaffrey 

Currier 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Doolittle,  John  H.  . 

Springfield,  Mass.     . 

Canvasser  . 

Married 

Two   . 

One. 

Doolittle,  Joseph  8. 

Weirs 

Hotel-keeper 

Married     . 

Three. 

Drake,  William  S.  . 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Machinist  . 

Married. 

Ellis,  Lyman    . 

Everett,  Mass.  . 

Manufacturer     . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Far  well,  John  T.      . 

Harris\ille 

Mechanic    •         . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Frost,  John 

East  Jaffrey       .        . 

Farmer 

Married 

One     . 

Two. 

Gerry,  Ira 

Claremont  . 

Teamster    . 

Married     . 

One. 

Green,  James  . 

North  Branch    . 

Teamster   .        »,.,.. 

Married 

Two. 

Greenwood,  Leroy  P. 

Peterboro'  .         .        . 

Paper-  maker     .        . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Hatch,  Herbert  C.    . 

Walpole     .        .        . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Hill,  Horace  J. 

Worcester 

Stationary  engineer  . 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Houston,  J.  Augustine   . 

South  Acton,  Mass.  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Jerry,  Amiell  . 

Claremont. 

Factory-hand     . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Five. 

Jillson,  Almon  L.    . 

Templeton,  Mass.     . 

Cabinet-maker  . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Kelleher,  Timothy  . 

Keene 

Machinist's  helper    . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Ki  nsoi),  John  Q. 

S.  ABhburnh'm,  Mass 

Laborer 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Law,  Charles  1). 

East  Jaffrey 

Cutlery-grinder 

Married. 

Learned,  Marion  D. 

So.  Vineland,  N.J.    . 

Fruit-grower     .        . 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Lettenmayer,  Otto  . 

Keene         .        .        V 

Confectioner      •        . 

Married 

Two   . 

One. 

Levoy,  Henry  E.     . 

Rumney     .        .        . 

Ladder-  maker   . 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Martin,  Alvin  K.      . 

Marlborough      .        . 

Carpenter  .        .        . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Merrifield,  Charles  B.      . 

Algona,  lo.        . 

Railroading 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Morey,  Albert  L.     . 

Togus,  Me. 

Soldiers'  Home 

Widower. 

Morse,  Henry  F. 

East  Jaffrey 

Mechanic   .        .        . 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Mower,  Nahum  W. 

East  Jaffrey 

Station  agent     .        . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Murdough,  Samuel  C.     . 

East  Washington 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

O'Brien,  William  D. 

Columbus,  O.     . 

Plumber  &  steam  fit. 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Osborne,  II  -nry  E.  . 

New  Florence,  Mo.  . 

Laborer      .        .        . 

Married 

One    . 

Two. 

Parker,  William       . 

Dead  wood,  Dakota  . 

Lawyer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Pierce,  Albert  S.      . 

Fitch  burg,  Mass. 

Machinist  . 

Married. 

Pollard,  Ivers  E.      . 

Athol  Centre,  Mass. 

Lumberman 

Married. 

Poole,  Joel  H. 

Jaffrey 

Farm'r  &  sum'r  hotel, 

Married     . 

One. 

Poole,  John  W. 

Fitz  william  Depot    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Putnam,  Edwin  F.  . 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Reed,  J.  Langdoti    . 

Stoddard    . 

Farmer       .        .        ,.' 

Married 

One     . 

One. 

Rice,  John  C.  . 

Providence,  R.I. 

R.R.  conductor 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Richardson,  Herbert  C.  . 

Stoneham,  Mass. 

Shoe  manufacturer  . 

Married     . 

One. 

Riley,  Martin   . 

E.  Portland,  Oregon, 

Boot  and  shoe  dealer, 

Married. 

Riley,  Michael 

Keene 

Laborer 

Widower  . 

Two   . 

One. 

Robb,  William  P.    . 

Westminster,  Mass.  . 

Supt.  of  almshouse  . 

Married. 

Rolf,  William  H.     . 

Peterboro' 

Carpenter  .        .        . 

Married    . 

Two   . 

One. 

Royleigh,  Peter  W. 

South  Acworth 

Laborer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Scott,  James  H. 

Stoddard    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

Three. 

Shedd,  Granville     . 

Upper  Bedford,  P.Q. 

Machinist  . 

Married     . 

One     . 

Three. 

Shepherd,  Frank  B. 

Denver,  Col. 

Machinist  . 

Married    . 

One     . 

One. 

Smith,  Marcus  M.    . 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Iron-moulder 

Married     . 

_ 

Three. 

Smith,  Royal  W.     . 

Keene 

Machinist  .        .        .- 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

Smith,  Samuel  M.    . 

St.  Louis,  Mo.  . 

Lawyer      .        .        . 

Married    . 

_ 

Two. 

Spaulding,  Leonard  E.   . 

Jaffrey 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One. 

Steck,  Frederick      . 

Cleveland,  O.     . 

Laborer 

Married     . 

One. 

Sullivan,  J.  Kerry   . 

Washington,  D.C.     . 

C'k,  5th  auditor's  offi. 

Single. 

Turner,  Henry  A.    . 

Gardner,  Mass. 

Li  very  -keeper   . 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Wellmaa.  Israel  P.  . 

Gilsum 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Willard,  Lucius  S.  . 

Jersey  City 

Salesman,  New  York, 

Married     . 

One. 

Wright,  Daniel 

Gilsum 

?arm.  &  horse  breed'r, 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

ROLL   OF  SURVIVORS. 


439 


TABLE  IX.  —  Continued. 
COMPANY    H. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Soy  >t. 

Girl*. 

William  E.  Bunten 

Woodstock,  Conn.    . 

Teacher 

Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Albert  II.  Sawyer    . 

North  Weare. 

Walter  II  .  Sargent  . 

Bridgewaler 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two    . 

Two. 

David  A.  Macurdy  . 
Marcus  M.  Holmes  . 

Minneapolis,  Minn.  . 
Chicago,  111. 

Shipping  agent  . 
Cashier 

Married. 
Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

George  F.  Blanchard 

Pine  Ridge  Ag.,  Dak. 

Trader 

Married. 

Joseph  C.  Muncey. 

Timothy  E.  Bay  ley 

Plymouth. 

Nathan  P.  Gilmore 

Newport    . 

Carriage-maker 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Charles  F.  Heath     . 

Lynn,  Mass. 

Horse-car  conductor, 

Alexander,  Benjamin  D. 

Bailey,  Amos  C. 

Francestown 

Farmer 

Single. 
Siiiff  It*. 

Bell,  Robert     . 

Manchester 

Stone-cutter 

Married. 

Blanchard,  Henry  H. 

Rondout,  N.Y.  . 

Telegraph  operator  . 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Bradbury,  Samuel  G. 

Hopkinton 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Brown,  Elbridge  C. 

Dunbarton 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two  . 

One. 

Brown,  Frederick  T. 

Chichester 

Farmer 

Widower  . 

One. 

Brown,  Joseph. 

Buzzell,  William     . 

North  Chichester 

Farmer       .        .        . 

Widower  . 

Two. 

Call,  Cbellis  E. 

Chichester 

Painter 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Five. 

Cashman,  John. 

Chamberlain,  Alonzo  P. 

Dunbarton 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

Three. 

Clement,  Charles  11. 

George's  Mills  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four. 

Cochran,  George  S. 

Colby,  Daniel  A.      . 

Francestown. 

Colby,  George  O.     . 

Derry 

Cooper 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Corser,  David  S.       . 

Concord     . 

Lawyer 

Single. 

Dolloff,  Levi     . 

Campion    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

Emerson,  John  R.  . 

North  Dunbarton 

•  Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Frazier,  Lewis. 

Frothinglmm,  George  H. 

Gale,  Augustus  L. 

Garland,  Alonzo  E. 

George,  Sullivan  H. 

Goshen  Mill  Village, 

Harness-maker. 

Married 

Three, 

Three. 

Haines,  James  H.    . 

Concord 

Clergyman 

Married. 

Haines,  Thomas 

Concord. 

Hastings,  Lyman  B. 

Hurd,  Ira,  jun. 

Goshen. 

Jeffers,  Edward  F.  . 

South  Tamworlh 

Farmer 

Married. 

Two   . 

Two. 

Keegan,  John. 

Lapoint,  Francis. 

Lear,  Edwin  B. 

Sutton 

Farmer 

Married. 

Lear,  George  B. 

Newport    . 

Blacksmith 

Married. 

Libbv,  George  A.    . 

Contoocook 

Carpenter  .        . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Libby,  William  H.  . 

Winchester,  Mass.    . 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

Three. 

Lougee,  Abner  H.   . 

West  Campion  . 

Mechanic    . 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Mangan,  Dennis 

West  Gardner,  Mass. 

Chairmaker 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Marstin,  George  W. 

Merrill,  Artemas  W. 

Forge  Village,  Mass. 

Sausage-maker  . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Moody,  William  H. 

Fisherville 

Butcher      .         . 

Married     . 

One     . 

Two. 

Morse,  John  D. 
Moulton,  Freeman  . 

West  Campion  . 
West  Campion  . 

Farmer       ... 
Farmer 

Married     . 
Married     . 

Three, 
Two   . 

Five. 
Three. 

Moulton,  Freeman  L. 

Plymouth. 

Norwood,  John  E.  . 

Richmond  . 

Postmaster 

Single. 

Parker,  William  P. 

Mend  ota,  111.      . 

Organ  manufacturer, 

Married 

_ 

One. 

Perry,  Samuel  M.    . 

Warren 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Perkins.  Joseph  O.  .         .  !  Concord 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Peters,  Peter    . 

Pranceatown. 

Pierce,  Edward  E.  . 

Walpole     . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Poor,  Wilson  E. 

Roby,  George  S.      . 

Warner. 

Russell,  David  O.    . 

Bow    .... 

Farmer. 

Sanborn,  Henry  M. 

Chichesler 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Scribins,  Thomas  L. 

440 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  H — Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Smith,  Simeon  C. 

Stan  y  an,  James 
Towle,  Charles  H.  . 

Chichester 
Chichester 

- 

Single. 
Married. 

Varney,  John  S. 

Ward,  James  O. 
Wheeler,  Robert  E. 

West  Campton  . 
Manchester 

Farmer       .        .        .' 
Butcher     .        .        . 

Married     . 
Married     . 

One. 

Two. 

Williams,  John  E. 

Williams,  Simeon. 

Wilson,  Leonard. 

Winn,  John. 

COMPANY    I. 


Sylvester  M.  Bugbee 

Cornish  Flat      . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Ransom  Huntoon    . 

Newport    . 

Mill  employee   . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Thomas  J.  MorrSll  . 

Grantham. 

Trader 

Married 

_ 

Two. 

Benjamin  F.  Pierce 

Stoughton,  Mass. 

Locomotive  engineer, 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Ezekiel  H.  Hadley  . 

Bradford    . 

Blacksmith 

Married     . 

Three, 

Two. 

Peter  Crowell  . 

Newport    . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Five    . 

Six. 

Hiram  II.  Darling   . 

Lebanon     . 

Scythe-grinder  . 

Married 

Three, 

One. 

Daniel  C.  Currier    . 

Grantham  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

George  S.  Jones 

Boston,  Mass.    . 

Wine-clerk 

Married     . 

Eben  W.  Parker      . 

White-field 

Shingle-  sawyer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Jason  A.  Perkins     . 

South  Newbury 

Blacksmith 

Married    . 

Three, 

Three. 

Abbott,  WTillis  8.     . 

Amoskeag 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Ashey,  John    . 

Hartford,  Vt.    . 

Farmer 

Married 

One. 

Ashey,  Lewis  . 

Old  Orchard,  Mass.  . 

Fanner 

Married. 

Bailey,  Cyrus  S. 

Nashua 

Iron  &  steel  worker, 

Married 

_ 

Two. 

Barker,  Frederick  L.       . 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt.     . 

Boarding-ho.  keeper, 

Married     . 

One     . 

Four. 

Barton,  Ziba  C. 

Brown,  George 

Kensington 

Farmer 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Chapman,  James  H. 

White  River  Jet.,  Vt 

Laborer 

Widower  . 

One    . 

One. 

Clough,  Newton 

Grantham  . 

Clergyman  &  farmer, 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

Colburn,  Walter  F. 

South  Newbury 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

Cram,  George  F. 
Cumings,  Charles  B. 

Newport    . 
Cornish  Flat      . 

Farmer 
Farmer 

Married 
Married     . 

- 

One. 
Two. 

Dodge,  Simeon  S.    . 

Chandlerville 

Farmer 

Married 

One     . 

Two. 

Dudley,  Winthrop  C.      . 

So  u  tli  Newbury 

Invalid 

Married. 

Fitch,  Luther,  jun.  . 

Manchester 

Laborer 

Married     . 

Two. 

FOBS,  Walter  H. 

Claremont 

Gardener  . 

Married 

_ 

Three. 

Foster,  Charles  E.  . 

Erie,  Penn.         .         . 

Stove-manufacturer, 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Gaut,  John  S.  . 

Grantham  .        .        . 

Farmer 

Married 

One. 

Gove,  Charles  R.     . 

Kensington 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Hall,  Levi  1).,  jun.  . 

Claremont 

Carpenter  &  farmer, 

Married 

One     . 

One. 

Haven,  Abiel  L. 

Cornish  Centre 

Mechanic   . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Two. 

Hibbard,  John  B.    . 

Woodstock,  Vt. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Hoban,  Patrick 

Claremont          . 

Paper-  maker 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Three. 

Howard,   Waldo  L. 

Lebanon 

Carriage-maker 

Married     . 

_ 

Two. 

Howard,  Wilbur  F. 

Cornish  Flat      . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three. 

Hunter,  Harlan  P.  . 

Claremont  .         .         . 

Stair-builder      . 

Married     . 

Two. 

Hurley,  Martin  V.  B.      . 

Windsor,  Vt.    . 

Hairdresser        . 

Married 

Two    . 

One. 

Knight,  Alonzo 

Washington       .        . 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

T  wo   . 

Three. 

Lane,  Marcus  M.     . 

Lebanon     . 

Carriage-painter 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Mace,  Henry  C. 

Claremont  . 

Teamster   .        .        . 

Married     . 

Two. 

McMahan,  John. 

McMahan,  Michael  . 

North  Charlestown  . 

Invalid 

Married     . 

Four  . 

One. 

Miller,  Jonathan,  jun.     . 

Thompsonville,Conn. 

Merchant  . 

Married     . 

Four. 

Miller,  Theodore. 

Mullen,  Hugh. 

Oliver,  Mitchell 

Claremont 

Truck'n  Scwood  deal. 

Married. 

O'Brien,  Cornelius. 

Page,  John  M. 

North  Newport 

Manuf.  woodenware, 

Married     . 

Two    . 

Five. 

Peasley,  George  W. 

Wellesley,  Mass.       . 

Supt.  shoe-factory    . 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

ROLL   OF  SURVIVORS 


441 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  I — Continued. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Pike,  Clarence  F.     . 

Newport    . 

Jack-of-all-trades 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Two. 

Saunders,  Lyman  P. 

North  Grantham 

Blacksmith 

Married 

One    . 

Six. 

Short,  John  N. 

West  Lebanon  . 

Invalid 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Four. 

Shellan,  Morris. 

Stockwell,  Charles  H.     . 

Newport    .        .  *      . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Stoddard,  Hezekiah 

Colebrook  . 

Invalid        .        .        . 

Married. 

Stowell,  Freeman  S. 

Weare 

Out  of  business 

Widower  . 

One     . 

One. 

Stowell,  George  H. 

Claremont  . 

Woodenware  manuf. 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Three. 

Tasker,  George 

Parker's  Landing,  Pa. 

Petroleum  oil  busin's, 

Married     . 

One    . 

One. 

Wallace,  William    . 

Grantham  . 

U.  S.  mail-carrier 

Married     . 

Six      . 

One. 

Welch,  William       . 

East  Lempstcr  . 

Farmer 

Married 

Five    . 

Four. 

Whittaker,  Benjamin 

Harbor  Springs,  Mich. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Three, 

One. 

Woodbury,  Albert  . 

Bradford    . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Wroodward,  Charles 

Meriden 

Farmer 

Married    . 

One    . 

Four. 

COMPANY    K.            , 

Oliver  H.  Marston   . 

Stoneham,  Mass. 

Machinist  .        .        . 

Married    . 

One. 

James  H.  Gilman     . 

Grand  De  Tour,  111. 

Octavius  C.  Mason  . 

Sterling,  111.       . 

Druggist    . 

Married    . 

One    . 

Two. 

James  M.  Parrott     . 

Moultonboro'     . 

Farmer 

Married. 

John  M.  Prentiss     . 

Pembroke. 

Russell  Graves 

Sandwich  . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Lemuel  F.  Vittum  . 

Sandwich  . 

Farmer 

Married. 

George  N.  French   . 

Washington,  D.C.    . 

Treasury  clerk. 

Married. 

Enoch  S.  Eastman  . 

Swampscott,  Mass.   . 

Watchmaker     . 

Married     . 

Two. 

Daniel  R.  Gilman    . 

Muscatine,  lo.    . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Samuel  F.  Beede 

Northtield,  Minn.      . 

Teacher 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

J.  Marcellus  Smith  . 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Shoemaker 

Married     . 

_ 

One. 

John  L.  Smith  . 

Cambridgep't,  Mass. 

Organ-tuner 

Married     . 

One     . 

One. 

Atwood,  John  . 

North  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One. 

Baker,  Benjamin 

Pembroke. 

Basacca,  Antonio. 

Bennett,  Amos  W.  . 

North  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married. 

Bennett,  William  H. 

Westmoreland,  Kan. 

Blood,  Herman 

Garden  Bay,  Mich. 

Brown,  Warren  J.  . 

North  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married    . 

Four  . 

One. 

Buckalow,  John. 

Burnham,  James  H. 

Buzzell,  Ebenezer  M. 

Lake  Village 

Hair-dresser 

Married. 

Buzzell,  Ransom  D. 
Chase,  James  E. 

Lake  Village     . 
Lowell,  Mass.    . 

Carpenter  . 
Machinist  . 

Married. 
Married     . 

Two. 

Cook,  Jesse  H. 

Centre  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married. 

Cowan,  Went  worth  S.    . 

Tarn  worth. 

Densiro,  Dennis. 

Dobson,  James. 

Dustin,  Ezekiel  E.  . 

Taunton,  Mass. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Four  . 

Three. 

Emerson,  James 

Fryeburg  Centre,  Me. 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One     . 

Three. 

Estes,  William  H.   . 

Sandwich  . 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two   . 

Fellows,  Benjamin  F.      . 

Centre  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married. 

Fowler,  Trueworthy 

Allenstown 

Farmer 

Married     . 

Two. 

Frye,  John 

Moultonboro'     . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Gazhoe,  Alexander. 

Glidden,  Warren  A. 

Concord     . 

Machinist. 

Gloget,  Enos. 

Goss,  John  W. 

Centre  Sandwich 

Farmer 

Married. 

Gove,  John  M. 

Haggett,  Benjamin  B. 
Harriman,  Edgar     . 

East  Pembroke 
Chatham 

Farmer 
Farm,  andb'cksmith, 

Married 
Married     . 

Two   . 
Three, 

Two. 
Two. 

Harriman,  Phleman 

Eaton. 

Henry,  Lewis. 

Huntress,  Andrew  . 

Sandwich  . 

Farmer 

Single. 

442 


FOURTEENTH  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 


TABLE  IX.  —  COMPANY  K  —  Concluded. 


NAME. 

Residence. 

Occupation. 

Married  or 
Single. 

No.  of  Children. 

Boys. 

Girls. 

Kent,  John 

Rochester  .        .        . 

Farmer 

Single. 

Le  Bosquet,  Henry  S.     . 

Boston,  Mass.   . 

Printer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Three. 

Lee,  William. 

Manchester,  Lorenzo  D. 

McGowan,  Thomas. 

« 

Moony,  Isaac  G. 

Tiltcn. 

Morse,  John  H. 

Hoiderness         .      •   . 

Farmer 

Married 

One    . 

Two. 

Moulton,  Henry  II. 

Meredith  Village       . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Murray,  Patrick. 

O'Brien,  Edward. 

Page,  Henry  P. 

Nebraska  City,  Neb. 

Clergyman 

Married     . 

Two   . 

One. 

Plummer,  Henry 

Cambridgep't,  Mass. 

Quimby,  William  F. 

North  Sandwich 

Carpenter  . 

Married     . 

One. 

Robinson,  Frank  P. 

Pembroke. 

Robinson,  Samuel  D. 

Pembroke. 

Schmidt,  John. 

Simpson,  William   . 

Concord 

Farmer 

Married     . 

One    . 

Two. 

Sinclair,  Edwin  D.  . 

Meredith  Village       . 

Job  teamster     . 

Married. 

Smith,  Daniel  M.      . 

Belmont 

Farmer 

Married. 

Smith,  Herbert  II.    . 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

Smith,  Lewis  Q.       . 

Centre  Sandwich 

Farmer       .        «        . 

Married. 

Smith,  Samuel  S.     . 

Worcester,  Mass. 

Stone,  George  W.   . 

Pembroke. 

Tanner,  Henry  11. 

Taylor,  Peter. 

Tilton,  Henry  A.     . 

Moultonboro*     . 

Farmer 

Married. 

Toben,  James. 

Vittum,  Samuel  F.  . 

Sandwich  . 

Farmer       .        .        . 

Widower. 

Wallace,  Alfred 

Centre  Sandwich 

Fanner       .        .        . 

Married 

One. 

Whayland,  John. 

Whipple,  Joseph. 

White,  Benjamin      . 

Dunbarton         .        . 

Farmer       .        .        . 

Single. 

Wilson,  James. 

RECAPITULATION  OF  TABLES. 


S 

II  KILLED  OR 
DEATHS  IN      MOKTALLY 
SERVICE,    i:  WOUNDED. 

WOUNDED. 

CAPTURED. 

DIED  SINCE 
DISCHARGE. 

ORGANIZA 

• 

TION. 

.=  ^ 

| 

8 

•s 

"S 

'o 

i 

•g 

•r   - 

I 

o 

o 

0 

Q 

j- 

o 

V 

o 

Lt 

C 

K 

5 

£ 

K 

p., 

5 

^ 

5 

OH 

« 

^ 

Field      and 

staff  . 

J3 

_ 

13 

2 

15.3 

1 

7.6 

_ 

_ 

_ 

- 

4 

- 

Co.  A  . 

100 

8 

108 

18 

16.6 

7 

6.4 

18 

16.6 

3 

2.7 

12 

11.1 

B  . 

101 

J8 

119 

15 

12.6 

6 

5. 

8 

67 

2 

1.0 

11 

9.2 

C  . 

101 

16 

116 

13 

11.2 

5 

4.3 

11 

9.4 

1 

.8 

14 

12. 

I)  . 

102 

19 

121 

11 

9. 

9 

7.4 

16 

13.2 

2 

1.6 

16 

132 

K  . 

101 

39 

140 

19 

13.5 

1 

.7 

11 

7.8 

2 

1.4 

11 

7.8 

F  . 

91 

4;; 

134 

10 

7.4 

9 

6.7 

16 

11.9 

3 

2.2 

15 

11.1 

G  . 

97 

21 

11H 

9 

7.6 

4 

3.3 

14 

11.8 

3 

2.5 

16 

13.5 

II  . 

86 

44 

130 

18 

13.8 

8 

6.1 

21 

16.1 

2 

1.5 

8 

fi.l 

I  . 

86 

39 

125 

24 

19.2 

5 

4. 

13 

10.4 

5 

4. 

9 

7.2 

K  . 

89 

47 

136 

17 

12.5 

10 

7.3 

18 

13.2 

2 

1.4 

14 

10.2 

Totals       . 

967 

293 

1,260 

156 

- 

65 

- 

146 

- 

25 

- 

130 

- 

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